GROWTH AND YIELD PERFORMANCE OF SUNFLOWER (HELIANTHUS ANNUUS L.) AS INFLUENCED BY COW DUNG AND NPK FERTILIZERS

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at the research farm of Charfasson Govt.
College, Bhola, Bangladesh in rabi season in 2015-2016 to evaluate the effect of
cow dung and chemical fertilizers on growth and yield of sunflower cv. BARI-2
(Keroni-2). Highest plant height (208.4 cm), leaf area (410.5 cm2) and leaf area
index (12.75) were recorded in T16 (7.5 ton CD ha-1 +N120P90K150kg ha-1). Highest
dry matter yield viz. stem (60.67g plant-1) found in treatment T16 (7.5 ton CD ha-
1+N120 P90K150kg ha-1). Maximum dry weight of leaf (25.33g plant-1) and dry weight
of root (12.83g plant-1) were found in treatment T15 (7.5 ton CD ha-1 +N80P60K100kg
ha-1). Highest dry weight of seed (64.7 g plant-1) and dry wt. of 100 seed (9.8 g)
were found in treatment T15 (7.5 ton CD ha-1 +N80P60K100kg ha-1) but the highest
number of seed (735.7plant-1) and florescence diameter (52.67 cm) were observed
in treatment T13 (5 ton CD ha-1 +N120P90K150kg ha-1). Maximum total dry matter yield
per plant was 92.01 g and per hectare was 5.75 ton in T16 (7.5 ton CD ha-1+N120
P90K150kg ha-1). Results revealed that the combined application of cow dung and
NPK fertilizers produced better growth and yield of sunflower in field condition
at the coastal belt of Bangladesh.