Effect of Date and Quantity of Potassium Fertilizer Application on Growth, Yield and Oil Quality of Sunflower Helianthus annuus L. var. flame

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out in Thi-qar province-Batha city with two Seasons, 1 st experiment was during Fall season (2011) and 2 nd experiment was during Spring Season (2012) using R.C.B.Desgn. with three replications. The main objective of experiment was to find the effect of dates and levels of Potassium on oil quality and yield of Sunflower. Six levels of K were used (K 0 = Control, K 1 = 120 kgK.ha-1 (Soil),K 2 = 6000 mgk.L-1 foliar,K 3 =30kgk.ha-1 soil+3000mgk.L-1 foliar,K 4 =30kgk.ha-1 soil+6000mgk.L-1 foliar,K 5 =30kgk.ha 1 soil +9000 mgk.L-1 foliar) and three dates (T 1 = 8 leaves, T 2 = 14 leaves, T 3 = 20 leaves). The results showed that increasing of Potassium levels significantly caused increasing in (seed number, 1000 seed weight and yield plant) Fall and Spring seasons. The highest seed yield was 28,7% and it obtained by third date of 2 nd season. Also the percent of oil and oil yield of 1 st and 2 nd season were increased respectively. The interaction had significant effect on yield traits (seed number and seed 1000 weight) of 2 nd season. There was no effect for fertilization and dates in oleic acid for both seasons, while the linoleic acid was influenced by 1 st date of 1 st and 2 nd season respectively