Correlation studies on nitrogen for sunflower crop across the agroclimatic variability.
Nitrogen (N) fertilizer is an important yield limiting factor for sunflower production. The correlation between yield components and growth parameters of three sunflower hybrids (Hysun-33, Hysun-38, Pioneer-64A93) were studied with five N rates (0, 60, 120, 180, 240 kg ha(-1)) at three different experimental sites during the two consecutive growing seasons 2008 and 2009. The results revealed that total dry matter (TDM) production and grain yield were positively and linearly associated with leaf area index (LAI), leaf area duration (LAD), and crop growth rate (CGR) at all three sites of the experiments. The significant association of yield with growth components indicated that the humid climate was most suitable for sunflower production. Furthermore, the association of these components can be successfully used to predict the grain yield under diverse climatic conditions. The application of N at increased rate of 180 kg ha(-1) resulted in maximum yield as compared to standard rate (120 kg ha(-1)) at all the experimental sites. In this way, N application rate was significantly correlated with growth and development of sunflower under a variety of climatic conditions. Keeping in view such relationship, the N dose can be optimized for sunflower crop in a particular region to maximize the productivity. Multilocation trails help to predict the input rates precisely while taking climatic variations into account also. In the long run, results of this study provides basis for sustainable sunflower production under changing climate.
Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology (CIIT), Vehari, Pakistan.|CIHEAM-IAMM, 3191 Route de Mende, Montpellier, France.
Wajid
W
Nasim
CIHEAM-IAMM, 3191 Route de Mende, Montpellier, France.
Hatem
H
Belhouchette
Agronomy Section, Central Cotton Research Institute (CCRI), Multan, Pakistan.
Muhammad
M
Tariq
College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China. shah_fahad80@yahoo.com.
Shah
S
Fahad
Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology (CIIT), Vehari, Pakistan.
Hafiz Mohkum
HM
Hammad
Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology (CIIT), Vehari, Pakistan.
Muhammad
M
Mubeen
Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Muhammad Farooq Hussain
MF
Munis
Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Hassan Javed
HJ
Chaudhary
Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
Imran
I
Khan
Department of Environmental Science & Engineering, Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
Faisal
F
Mahmood
Department of Chemical Engineering, CIIT, Lahore, Pakistan.|PETRONAS Ionic Liquid Center, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Tronoh, Malaysia.
Tauqeer
T
Abbas
Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.|Washington State University, Prosser, WA, USA.
Fahd
F
Rasul
Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology (CIIT), Vehari, Pakistan.|Boreal Ecosystem Research Initiatives, Grenfell Campus Memorial University of Newfoundland, Corner Brook, NL, Canada.
Muhammad
M
Nadeem
Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
Ali Ahsan
AA
Bajwa
Department of Plant and Food Sciences, The Universityof Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Najeeb
N
Ullah
Department of Arid Land Agriculture, Faculty of Meteorology,Environment & Arid Land Agriculture, King Abdul Aziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia.
Fahad
F
Alghabari
Department of Horticulture, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, 150030, China.
Shah
S
Saud
Institute of Environmental Engineering, School of Metallurgy and Environment, Central South University, Hunan, China.
Hussani
H
Mubarak
Department of Soil Science, University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Pakistan.
Rafiq
R
Ahmad
D018533:Biomass; D057231:Climate Change; D018556:Crops, Agricultural / Q000254:growth & development*; D005308:Fertilizers / Q000032:analysis*; D006368:Helianthus / Q000254:growth & development*; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000254:growth & development
D005308:Fertilizers; D009584:Nitrogen
Agroclimatic variability; Crop growth correlations; Helianthus annuus L; Nitrogen use efficiency; Yield