Combined Sulfur and Organic Compost Treatment Influences Nutrient Uptake and Photosynthetic Activity to Improve Growth and Yield of Sunflower
Combined Sulfur and Organic Compost Treatment Influences Nutrient Uptake and Photosynthetic Activity to Improve Growth and Yield of Sunflower
Sami Ul Haq1, Abid Hussain1*, Umair Riaz2, Muhammad Baqir Hussain1, Adnan Fareed1, Nabeel Ahmad Ikram3 and Fahim Nawaz3
ABSTRACT
Sunflower needs higher sulfur as compared to other oilseed crops. In addition to sulfur, Compost can enhance the availability of nutrients, resulting in increased crop yield. Adequate sulfur (S) supply plays an important role for improving seed and oil yield of sunflower. Oilseed crops require sulfur for oil contents and protein synthesis. A field trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of S application, alone or in combination with Compost containing sulfur-oxidizing bacteria (SOB), on the yield and growth of sunflower. Sulfur was applied as individual treatments (25, 50, 75 kg ha-1) and in combination with Compost (750 kg ha-1). The results showed a considerable increase in plant height (67.60%), chlorophyll b content (92.10%), stomatal conductance (158%) as well as shoot P content (50.25%) that ultimately increased the yield (80%) of sunflower plants grown in soil fertilized with 75 kg S kg ha-1 plus Compost (750 kg ha-1). The application of Compost is one of the effective strategies to enhance the availability of nutrients, including S, to obtain high quality and product in sunflower. It can be suggested that the finding of current research can be utilized to as a good strategy for enhancing the productivity of sunflower.
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