Performance of spring hybrid Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L. Var. GKSF-2002) under different foliar nutrients and growth regulator in West Bengal

The influence of foliar nutrients and growth regulators on growth, yield, and quality of sunflower was investigated during summer season of 2017. The experiment was laid out with a randomized block design at agricultural experimental farm of Institute of Agricultural Science of Calcutta University, Baruipur, West Bengal. Treatments included six foliar nutrients, viz., Water spray (T1), KCl@ 0.5% (T2), KNO3 @ 0.5% (T3), DAP @1.5% (T4), N P K 10:26:26 @1.5% (T5) and NaCl @0.25% + Turmeric @0.25% (T6) and four levels of growth regulator viz., Cycocel @0.2% (T7), Cycocel @0.25% (T8), Cycocel @0.3% (T9) and Cycocel @0.25% + N P K 10:26:26 @1.5% (T10). Nutrients and growth regulators were applied as foliar sprays and data were recorded for leaf area (cm2/plant), leaf area index, no. of filled seeds per head, no. of unfilled seeds per head, stover yield (t/ha), biological yield (t/ha), harvest index and oil yield (t/ha). The observations showed that superior and better results in growth, yield and oil were recorded in T10 followed by T5 and T8 compared to T1, T2, T3, T4, T6, T7 and T9. The results showed that using a foliar application of Cycocel @0.25% + N P K 10:26:26 @1.5% increased the growth and yield of sunflower significantly, as compared to the other treatments.