Evaluation of conservation tillage practices for enhancing productivity of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) under rice fallow environment of Odisha

Plant spacing manipulations affect the quality and quantity of sunlight for photosynthesis and the branching vis-à-vis crop productivity. Field experiment was conducted to study the effect of different plant spacings(broadcasting, 30 x 30 cm, 45 x 30 cm and 45 x 45 cm and solid rows of 45 cm apart) in conjunction with nitrogen doses (0, 30 and 45 kg/ha) on growth rate of branches and capsules, and seed yield of sesame (Variety Sweta). Branching, a significant plant phenotypic plasticity in sesame was the main attribute affected by plant spacing and N doses. Solid rows of 45 cm apart sowing (2.2 lakh plants/ha) recorded significantly the highest seed yield (8.0q/ha) among different plant spacing treatments. Crop raised with broadcasting method (approx 2.8 lakh plants/ha) yielded 7.4 q/ha which was significantly higher than other plant spacings of 30×30 cm (1.11 lakh plants/ha), 45×30 cm (0.74 lakh plants/ha) and 45×45 cm (0.49 lakh plants/ha). Application of 45 kg N/ha recorded significantly higher seed yield than 30 kg N/ha and no N across different plant spacings. Except 45×30 cm and 45×45 cm spacings, all other spacings recorded significantly higher seed yield for each increment in N dose.

Plant density and nitrogen interaction on productivity of summer sesame (Sesamum indicum L.)

K RAMESH,

G SURESH,

A AZIZ QURESHI

et al. 2021

Productivity and profitability of summer sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) with integrated nutrient management

ANITA MAHAPATRA,

B GOUDA,

K RAMESH

2021

A field experiment was conducted at College of Agriculture, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar on sandy loam soils during summer season of 2018-19 with an objective of evaluating nutrientmanagement for enhancing sunflower productivity under eastern Indian conditions. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with three replications. There were twelve treatment combinations viz., 1. Control; 2. Recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF @ 60:80:60 kg N: P2O5 : K2O/ha); 3. RDF + S @ 40 kg/ha; 4. RDF + B @ 0.02%; 5. RDF + S @ 40 kg/ha + B @ 0.02%; 6. STBFR (60:100:60 kg N: P2O5 : K2O/ha + S @ 40 kg/ha + B @ 0.02%); 7. FYM @ 5 t/ha; 8. RDF + FYM @ 5 t/ha; 9. RDF + FYM @ 5 t/ha + S @ 40 kg/ha; 10. RDF + FYM @ 5 t/ha + B @ 0.02%; 11. RDF + FYM @ 5 t/ha + S @ 40 kg/ha + B @ 0.02%; 12. STBFR + FYM @ 5 t/ha. The results of the study indicated that integrated nutrient management exhibited significant effect on growth, seed and oil yield of sunflower. Application of STBFR + FYM @ 5 t/ha recorded significantly highest growth parameters, seed (2.59 t/ha) and oil yield (1114 kg/ha) of sunflower which remained at par with RDF + FYM @ 5 t/ha + S @40 kg/ha + B @ 0.02%. Highest gross (`141084/ha) and net returns (`85406/ha) were recorded with STBFR + FYM @ 5 t/ha.

Nutrient uptake, post-harvest soil nutrient status and economic returns from sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) hybrids under different tillage and nutrient levels on lowland rice fallow environments of Odisha

ANITA MAHAPATRA,

DIKSHA PATEL,

KULASEKARAN RAMESH

et al. 2021

A field experiment was conducted at College of Agriculture, Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar on sandy loam soils during summer season of 2019 to study the effect of varied nutrient doses and tillage on the nutrient uptake and economics ofsunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) hybrids under lowland rice fallow environments. Three sunflower hybrids viz., DRSH-1, KBSH-44 and MSFH-17 were tested under three gradedfertility levels RDF (recommended dose of fertilizers), 50% RDF (30: 40: 30 kg N: P2O5 : K2O /ha), 100% RDF (60: 80: 60 kg N: P2O5 : K2O /ha) and 150% RDF (90:120:90 kg N: P2O5: K2O/ha) and four tillage practices viz., reduced,minimum, zero tillage and conventional tillage practice. Sunflower under zero tillage recorded the highest uptake of N (52.65 kg /ha), P (21.87 kg/ha) and K (76.03 kg/ha) besides highest seed yield (1.91 t/ha). On the other hand,conventional tillage recorded the highest post-harvest soil available nitrogen (216.6 kg /ha), phosphorous (12.9 kg/ha) and potassium (214.4 kg/ha). Among the hybrids, KBSH-44 recorded significantly higher seed yield (1.81t/ha) besides highest nutrient uptake. Raising sunflower hybrid KBSH-44 under rice fallow zero tillage conditions and fertilized with 150% RDF (90:120:90 kg N: P2O5 : K2O/ha) was found economically superior in terms of gross returns, net returns and B: C ratio (2.34).