Effect of Different Planting Geometry and Sulphur Fertilization on Growth and Yield of Sunflower in Sunflower + Greengram Intercropping System

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out during Mar-May, 2019 at the Experimental Farm, Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University, Annamalai nagar-608002, to study the effect of different planting geometry and sulphur levels in sunflower + greengram intercropping system on the growth and yield attributes and yield of sunflower. The experiment consisted of twenty treatments and were laid out in factorial randomized block design with two replications. The treatment consisted of Factor A(different plant geometry levels): M1 - sole sunflower (60 x 30 cm),M2 - sunflower (60 x 30 cm) + 1 row of greengram, M3 - sunflower (90 x 30 cm) + 2 rows of greengram, M4 - sunflower (120 x 30 cm) + 3 rows of greengram, M5 -sole greengram and Factor B (sulphur levels): S0 - 0 kg S ha-1, S1 - 20kgS ha-1,S2 - 40kg S ha-1 and S3 - 60kg S ha-1.The results revealedthat growth, yield attributes and yieldwere significantly influenced by different plant geometry and various sulphur levels. Among the different planting geometry levels tried, sole sunflower (60 x 30 cm) (M1 ) significantly recorded maximum growth and yield attributes and yield of sunflower. With regard to various sulphur levels tried, application of sulphur at 40 kg ha-1 (S2 ) significantly recorded maximum growth and yield attributes and yield of sunflower. Interaction between planting geometry and sulphur levels were significant.Among the treatment combinations tried, sole cropping of sunflower (60 x 30 cm) along with application of S at40 kg ha-1 (M1 S2 )had a spectacular effect on growth and yield attributes, ultimately leading to maximum seed yield(2152 kg ha-1). The minimum growth attributes were recorded in sunflower(120 x 30 cm) intercropped with three rows of greengram along with application ofSat 0 kg ha-1 (M4 S0 ).