Response of Seed Priming and Nitrogen Levels on Yield and Yield Attributes of Zero Till Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) Succeeding Rice

Aim: To determine the response of seed priming and nitrogen levels on yield and yield attributes of sunflower under zero till conditions succeeding rice. Study Design: Split plot. Place and Duration of Study: Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Palem, between December 2021 and March 2022. Methodology: A field experiment was conducted at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Palem, Nagarkurnool (District) during rabi 2021-22 to assess the effect of seed priming and nitrogen management on growth and yield of zero till sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) succeeding rice. The experiment was assigned in twelve treatments, laid out in split plot design with three replications. Treatments included were 4 treatments of seed priming methods (i) M1 = Control (no priming) (ii) M2 = Hydropriming (iii) M3 = Osmopriming with KNO3 @ 0.1% (iv) M4 = Osmopriming with NaCl @ 0.1% and 3 nitrogen levels (i) S1 = 100% RDN (ii) S2 = 100% RDN (iii) S3 = 150% RDN (RDN randomly placed in sub plots of the main plot. Results: The results revealed that head diameter (16.4 cm), number of seeds per head (534), threshing percentage (79.0%) and seed yield (1961 kg ha-1) of zero till sunflower was significantly higher in osmopriming of seeds with KNO3 @ 0.1% over other treatments. Among nitrogen levels, head diameter (16.1 cm), number of seeds per head (551), threshing percentage (79.7%) and seed yield (1944 kg ha-1) of zero till sunflower was significantly higher under with application of 150% RDN over 100% RDN and 125% RDN. Conclusion: Adoption of seed priming with KNO3 @ 0.1% for 12 hours and applying nitrogen @ 150% RDN improves the head diameter, number of seeds per head, threshing percentage which in turn increased the rabi sunflower seed yield under zero tilled conditions succeeding to rice.