EFFECTS OF NITROGEN FERTILIZER AND POULTRY MANURE RATES ON GROWTH, YIELD AND YIELD CHARACTERS OF SUNFLOWER (Helianthus annus L.)
EFFECTS OF NITROGEN FERTILIZER AND POULTRY MANURE RATES ON GROWTH, YIELD AND YIELD CHARACTERS OF SUNFLOWER (Helianthus annus L.)
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Date
2005-02
Authors
WABEKWA, J. WASINANINDA
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Abstract
Field experiments were conducted during the wet seasons of
2002 and 2003 at the research farm of the Institute For Agricultural
Research, Ahmadu Bello University, Samaru, Zaria (11o 11’N, 7o38’E)
686m above the sea level in the northern Guinea Savanna ecological
zone of Nigeria. The aim of the experiment was to evaluate the effects
of four levels of nitrogen fertilizer (0,60,120 and 180 kg ha-1) and four
levels of poultry manure (0,10,20 and 30 t ha-1), on the growth, yield and
yield characters of sunflower (var. Is’anka). The experiments were laid
out in randomized complete block design (R.C.B.D) and replicated three
times. Nitrogen fertilizer and poultry manure applied at higher rates of
120 kg and 20 t ha-1 respectively significantly increased the growth
parameters, particularly plant height and total dry matter per plant over
the lower rates in both years and the combined 2002 and 2003 rainy
seasons. Stand count at harvest however decreased with increased
nitrogen and poultry manure rates from control. The application of
nitrogen fertilizer and poultry manure alone or in combination at higher
rates of 120 kg N ha-1 and 20 t Pm ha-1 increased yield characters
particularly, head dry weight, head diameter, number of seeds per head
and seed yield per head. Poultry manure application significantly
increased 100-seed weight more than nitrogen fertilizer when applied
alone at 30 t ha-1, while days to 50% flowering reduced with increased
poultry manure rates, but was not significantly affected by nitrogen
fertilizer rates in both years and the combined analysis. The application
of 20 t Pm ha-1 produced significantly higher seed yield per hectare of
4.2 tonnes as against 1.7 tonnes in the control and appeared to be the
best nutrient requirement for optimum seed yield of sunflower at
Samaru in the northern Guinea savanna agroecological zone of Nigeria.
Positive and significant correlations was observed between seed yield
and all other characters tested, except days to 50% flowering and stand
count at harvest which negatively correlated with seed yield per hectare.
Description
A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE POSTGRADUATE
SCHOOL IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE
REQUIREMENT FOR THE AWARD OF MASTERS OF
SCIENCE DEGREE IN AGRONOMY
DEPARTMENT OF AGRONOMY, FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE
AND INSTITUTE FOR AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH,
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA
Keywords
EFFECTS,, NITROGEN,, FERTILIZER,, POULTRY,, MANURE,, RATES,, GROWTH,, YIELD,, CHARACTERS,, SUNFLOWER,, (Helianthus annus L.