Oil Yield and Fatty Acid Composition of Spring Sun flower as Affected by Sowing Date, Intra Row Spacing and Nitrogen Dose

Abstract

Limited research has been so far done in spring sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) for optimising the applied nitrogen dose and plant population under staggered sowing to achieve both higher oil yields and quality. In current study, protein and oil content, oil yield and fatty acid profile was investigated under three sowing dates (January 20, February 10 & March 2), two intra-row spacings (30 & 24 cm) and four nitrogen doses (0, 45, 60 & 75 kg ha−1). The results indicated that delayed sowing caused reduction in oil content and oil yield with concomitant increase in protein content. Increase in oleic acid with concomitant decrease in linoleic acid was also noted as the sowing was delayed. Intra-row spacing did not influence the oil content and fatty acid composition of oil but caused significant improvement in protein content. Each graded nitrogen dose led to improved protein content and oil yield but oil content showed the reverse trend.