GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT STUDIES OF SUNFLOWER (Helianthus annuus L.) AS INFLUENCED BY PLANT DENSITY AND SOWING DATE
GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT STUDIES OF SUNFLOWER (Helianthus annuus L.) AS INFLUENCED BY PLANT DENSITY AND SOWING DATE
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Date
1988-06
Authors
ATUK, Samuel
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Abstract
Investigation was carried out at Samaru, Zaria,
Nigeria, during the 1986 cropping season to study the
effects of four plant populations (30,000; 60,000;
120,000 and 240,000 plants/ha), three sowing dates
(July 2, 16 and 30) and two varieties (isaanka and
Funtua) on growth characters, yield and yield components
and seed quality of sunflower.
Increasing the population density from 30,000 to
2l}.0,000 plants/ha, decreased stand establishment and
survival rate from 53 to 35% and from 46 to 23%,
respectively. Similarly, stem and head diameters, dry
weight/head and weight of 1000 seeds decreased, but the
number of seeds/head and seed yield/plant showed a
significant decrease only at populations of 120,000 and
240,000 plants/ha There was no clear trend in oil
content with increase in plant population. However,
crude protein content, decreased with increase in
population only from 30,000 to 120,000 plants/ha.
Number of days to 50% flowering, days to maturity,
lodging percentage, percent empty seeds and seed yield
were not significantly affected by plant population.
The July 16 sown sunflower with a mean seed
yield of 1434.O kg/ha, out-yielded that sown on July 2
and July 30 by 18 and 24%, respectively. Delay in
sowing date decreased dry weight/head, number of seeds/
head and seed yield/plant. The percent oil content of
the seed increased from I44.1 to 47.2% when sowing was
delayed from July 2 to July 16.
Of the two varieties tested, Funtua excelled in
almost all the parameters except in oil content and
plant count.
Significant treatment interactions were observed
on yield parametersĀ«
Description
A thesis submitted to the Postgraduate School
of
Ahmadu Bello University
in
Partial fulfilment of the requirements
for the
Degree of Master of Science in Agronomy
DEPARTMENT OF AGRONOMY
FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY
ZARIA, NIGERIA
JUNE 1988
Keywords
DEVELOPMENT STUDIES,, SUNFLOWER,, (Helianthus annuus L.),, INFLUENCED,, PLANT DENSITY,, SOWING DATE