PJB-2023-2
INFLUENCE OF POTASSIUM AND IRON LEVELS ON SUNFLOWER
Behzad Zafar
Abstract
To ensures good crop production needs an optimum application of plant nutrients. There are 17 essential elements for plant growth some of these have been optimized while others including Iron and Potassium have not optimized yet. For this reason, a field trial was conducted during the summer of 2021 at Agronomy Research Farm of the University of Agriculture, Peshawar. With the objective of optimization 4 levels of potassium (0, 30, 45, and 60 kg ha-1) and 4 levels of iron (0, 5, 10, 15 kg ha-1) were investigated for their effect on yield and yield components of sunflower. A randomized complete block (RCB) design with three replications was used for the experiment. In each replication, one control plot with no potassium and no iron was maintained. Iron and potassium were procured from iron sulfate and Muriate of potash, respectively. The results showed that some parameters like emergence m-2, days to flowering, and number of plants m-2 at harvest were not significantly affected by potassium and iron application, while other parameters were significantly affected. Potassium applied at the rate of 60 kg ha-1 produced, heaviest head diameter (17.0 cm) maximum number of achenes capitulum-1 (914), thousand achene weight (46.1 g), biological yield (7246 kg ha-1) grain yield (1996 kg ha-1) and harvest index (26.6 %) with taller plants (167.1 cm), while K application at 60 kg ha-1 resulted in a delayed day to maturity (89 days). Iron applied at the rate of 15 kg ha-1 maintained higher plant height (156.7 cm), maximum head diameter (16.5 cm) number of achenes capitulum-1 (903), thousand achene weight (46.4 g), biological yield (7195 kg ha-1) grain yield (1964 kg ha-1), and harvest index (26.4 %). The effect of iron on plant height and days to maturity was found to be non-significant. Application of potassium at a rate of 60 kg ha-1 and iron at a rate of 15 kg ha-1 could be recommended for increased sunflower yield in agro-climatic condition of Peshawar valley.
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