Abstract
The research was conducted at Research Area of Department of Agronomy, Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan, during the spring season, 2016. The study aimed to evaluate the influence of foliage applied zinc on growth, yield and oil contents of hybrid sunflower. Experimental treatments comprise of two sunflower hybrids viz. H1= Hysun-33 and H2= S-278 and three zinc levels viz. T1= Control (no application), T2=1% ZnSO4 and T3 = 2% ZnSO4. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with split plot arrangement and repeated thrice. Data regarding growth, yield and oil contents were collected by using standard procedures. Results revealed that sunflower hybrid Hysun-33 gained maximum plant height (210.67cm), stem diameter (2.427), head diameter (15.533) achene number (852), achene yield (189.19 t ha-1), leaf area (789.56cm2) and oil contents (40.423%) followed by sunflower hybrid S-278. Zinc application significantly improved the yield and oil contents. In this regard, maximum plant height (194.67 cm), stem diameter (2.718cm), head diameter (14.633 cm), achene number (842.17), achene yield (194.56 t ha-1), leaf area (782.5cm2) and oil contents (40.12%) from 2% foliar application of zinc followed by 1% foliar application of zinc. Whereas, minimum plant height, stem diameter, head diameter, achene number, achene yield, leaf area and oil contents were recorded from control where no zinc was applied. Interaction of sunflower hybrids with zinc was also significant. In this contest, maximum plant height (231.67cm), stem diameter (2.917cm), head diameter (15.7cm), achene number (925.0), achene yield (205.89 t ha-1), leaf area (801.33cm2) and oil contents (41.65%) were recorded from sunflower hybrid Hysun-33 with 2% application of zinc followed by sunflower hybrid S-278 with 1% zinc foliar application. In Conclusion, sunflower hybrid along with the 2% foliar application of zinc is the most suitable combination to achieve higher yield and oil contents.
Highlights
The sunflower is the third most essential wellspring of edible oil and records for around 14% of world generation of grain oil
For the interaction of sunflower hybrids with zinc application levels, it was observed that maximum plant height (231.67cm), head diameter (15.70cm), achene number (925), achene yield (205.89), leaf area (801.33), harvest index (12.733%) and oil contents (41.65%) was recorded from sunflower hybrid (Hysun-33) with 2% foliar application of ZnSO4 which was followed by the same hybrid from 1% foliar application of ZnSO4 for plant height (211.0cm), head diameter (15.70cm), achene number (841.67cm), achene yield (188.33), harvest index (11.847%) and leaf area (788.33) from control (Table-2)
Significant differences were noted among different levels of zinc sulphate, hybrids and their interaction Maximum stem girth (3.18 cm) was obtained from S-278 while, Hysun-33 exhibited 2.43 cm stem diameter (Table-2)
Summary
The sunflower is the third most essential wellspring of edible oil and records for around 14% of world generation of grain oil. The chief fats in oil were linoleic and oleic acid and others are palmitic and stearic unsaturated fatty acids. It is cultivated in all over Pakistan. Sunflower had capability to compensate the hole among requirement and amount of edible oil and it was well amended to ecological conditions of Pakistan. Zinc shortage in plants cause usual signs; due to Zn deficiency, the crop growth reduces up to 50%. From the literature cited and the previous discussion it is hypothesized that exogenous application of zinc can improve the growth, yield and oil contents of sunflower crop. This study was aimed to investigate the potential role of foliar application of zinc on growth, yield and oil contents of sunflower hybrids
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