Pedosphere 20(5): 674--680, 2010
ISSN 1002-0160/CN 32-1315/P
©2010 Soil Science Society of China
Published by Elsevier B.V. and Science Press
| Interactive effects of potassium and phosphorus on phenology and grain yield of sunflower in Northwest Pakistan |
AMANULLAH and M. W. KHAN |
| Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Crop Production Sciences, KPK Agricultural University, Peshawar (Pakistan) |
| ABSTRACT |
| Potassium (K) and phosphorus (P) applications improve growth, increase yield and yield components of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) on K and P deficient soils in Northwest Pakistan. A field experiment was conducted using sunflower cv. Hysun-33 at the New Developmental Research Farm of KPK Agricultural University, Peshawar, Pakistan, during summer 2006. The experimental design was a randomized complete block in split plot arrangements, with six levels of K (0, 25, 50, 75, 100, and 125 kg K ha-1) as main plots and four levels of P (0, 45, 90, and 135 kg P ha-1) as sub-plots with three replications. Sunflower yield and yield components responded positively to K and P fertilization but the magnitude of response varied with the levels of K and P. Days to flowering and maturity, grains per head, 1000-grain weight, shelling percentage, and grain yield increased tremendously in the K and P-fertilized plots as compared to the control with no K and P applied. The combined application of 100 kg K and 45 kg P ha-1 significantly increased yield components, grain yield, harvest index, and shelling percentage of sunflower, suggesting that 100 kg K ha-1 in combination with 45 kg P ha-1 could maximize productivity of sunflower planted after wheat on the K and P deficient soils in the study area. |
| Key Words: days to flowering, days to maturity, harvest index, soil, yield components |
| Citation: AMANULLAH and Khan, M. W. 2010. Interactive effects of potassium and phosphorus on phenology and grain yield of sunflower in Northwest Pakistan. Pedosphere. 20(5): 674-680. |
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