Effect of Bio-fertilizer and Seasonality on Growth, Yield and Quality of Two Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) Hybrids at Shambat, Sudan

ABSTRACT

A field experiment and quality was conducted on a silty loam soil located at

Demonstration Farm of the College of Agricultural Studies, Sudan University

of Science and Technology at Shambat, Sudan, during two growing summer

and winter seasons of 2011/2012 to study the effect of bio-fertilizers on

growth, yield of two hybrids of sunflower. The effect of bio-fertilizers on the

soil were also determined. The bio-fertilizer levels were (Zero, 06.25, 12.5,

18.75 and 25.00 L/Ha) corresponding to F1, F2, F3,F4 and F5 treatments

while the two sunflower hybrids are hysun-33 (V1) and Shambat (V2). The

results showed that, means of growth parameters (plant height, leaf area

index and stem diameter), were higher in hysun-33 than Shambat while

reverse trend was observed in case of number of seeds per head and oil

content. Also, stem diameter, LAI, number of seeds per head, seeds oil

content were highly influenced by bio-fertilizer application and interaction

treatments. The highest, LA and stem diameter were recorded in F3× V1

treatment, while the highest seeds oil content was achieved by F4×V1

treatment. Application of F3 dose of bio- fertilizer showed major influencing

factor in the most of yield attributes in summer season. Moreover, the biofertilizer

(F4 and F5) treatments increased most of the soil properties

characters (Ca, N%, ESC, pH and soil traits) particularly with Shambat

hybrid. In conclusion, under conditions of this investigation, application

of bio-fertilizer at rate of 18.75L/ha to Shambat hybrid sunflower

could be recommended for increasing seed yield and oil % in

sunflower plant. The does of liquid bio fertilizer were added with every

watering intervals, which conducted ten times per season. The experiment

was arranged in split-plot based on a randomized complete block design

with four replications. The main plots were allotted for the two sunflower

hybrids, Hysun33 (V1) and Shambat (V2). While the subplots for biofertilizer

treatments.