Growth Response of Sunflower to Potassium Sulphate Application in Saline-sodic Soil
Badar- Uz-Zaman *
Land Resources Research Institute (LRRI), National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), Islamabad. Pakistan
Arshad Ali
Land Resources Research Institute (LRRI), National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), Islamabad. Pakistan
Muhammad Arshadullah
Land Resources Research Institute (LRRI), National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), Islamabad. Pakistan
Jalal- Ud-Din
Crop Sciences Institute (CSI), National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), Islamabad, Pakistan
Muhammad Suhaib
Land Resources Research Institute (LRRI), National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), Islamabad. Pakistan
Munazza Yousra
Land Resources Research Institute (LRRI), National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), Islamabad. Pakistan
Shoaib Ahmed
Land Resources Research Institute (LRRI), National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC), Islamabad. Pakistan
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aims: To evaluate the effect of SO42- and K+ application on growth of sunflower hybrids besides on growth parameters in a saline sodic soil.
Study Design: Laid out the experiment in Complete Randomized Design in triplicates, applying potassium sulphate in saline- sodic soil for the growth of sunflower.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in Soil Salinity and Bio-saline Research green house of Land Resources Research Institute at National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad, Pakistan during the period from January to March, 2018.
Methodology: Applied potassium sulphate @ 50 mg kg-1 in saline- sodic soil (ECe = 6.5dS m-1, pH = 7.7, SAR = 17) for the growth of sunflower hybrids viz. SMH-9706 and PARSUN-3.
Results: Sunflower responded significantly (P = 0.01) for growth and chemical parameters. Fresh and dry mass of PARSUN-3 were higher 14 and 12 percent respectively than that of SMH-9706. Sulphur and potassium ions uptakes were higher 32 and 22 percent respectively in PARSUN-3 than SMH-9706. Sulphur and potassium decreased Na+/K+ ratio in both the hybrids.
However, this decline was higher in PARSUN-3 than SMH-9706.
Conclusion: This study identified the way to evaluate promising genotypes of sunflower for growth and production with sulphur and potassium nutrition under saline sodic soil.
Keywords: Sunflower hybrids, saline-sodic soil, bio-mass, potassium sulphate, Na /K ratio