Journal of Biotechnology

& Crop Science

5(6): 47-51, 2016

Studies on effects of nitrogen and sulphur on the physiology of sunflower

(Helianthus annus L.)
Raghvendera, MP Srivastava, B Singh, Arun Kumar
Received: 15 April 2016 Revised Accepted: 18 June 2016

ABSTRACT

The study was undertaken to assess the performance and efficiency of Nitrogen and Sulphur and their interaction in their
respective doses applied through urea and elemental sulphur on sunflower (Hellianthus annuus L.). Full dose of sulphur was
given before sowing where as half nitrogen was applied at the time of sowing and next half nitrogen was applied at the age of
40 days after sowing. Besides this, Neem cake@2 q.ha-1 was also applied to check the termites and nematodes in soil. As
regards height of plant at 30, 60 and 90 days, T10 (N120S80) treatment combination followed by T9 (N120S40) have produced
tallest plants and increase in doses of N and S have significantly accelerated the total biomass and yield.

Key Words: Edible Oil, Nitrogen, Sulphur, Sunflower

INTRODUCTION

Oilseeds are rich sources of energy and nutritionally
edible oils and meals have an important role to play
in relieving malnutrition and calorie nutrition of
human and animal population. Edible oil per capita
consumption is continuously rising (Singh and Singh,
2001). The per capita consumption of edible oil is
projected to be 15 kg and oil production of 17.7
million tons which is equivalent to 51 million tons of
seeds. The government has set a target to 60 million
tons of oil seeds production by next year. The present
average yields of oilseeds are just about 9 tons per
hectare, which needs to be increased to at least 1.2
tonnes in coming years (Hedge 2005). Sunflower
(Helianthus annus L.) is one of the few crop species
that originated in North American tribes. Who
domesticated the crops (around 1000 BC). They then
carried eastward and southward of North America.
The first Europeans observed sunflower cultivated in
many places including in Southern Canada to
Raghvendera ( ), MP Srivastava, B Singh
Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, SMM Town PG
College, Ballia, UP
Email: ragh.vendra987@gmail.com
Arun Kumar
Directorate of Planning and Monitoring
Bihar Agriculture University, Sabore, Bihar
Mexico. Very recently sunflower has generated
considerable interest in research and development
agencies because of its high and superior oil quality.
The crop, has proved for more productive and best
performance of the crop is seen in northern India in
spring seasons where among others factors, the crop
is being raised under favorable conditions like
subtropical environment that poses moisture and heat
stresses, which is overcome by the way of deeper
and explorative rot system and the short growing
period of crops Therefore ample scope to improve
our edible oil situation by capitalizing on the
enormous potential of sunflower through an
appropriate land of available production technologies
and development efforts. In spite of having worlds
largest acreage under oilseeds, production level in
India is very low. Cultivation of oilseeds the
production technology developed of different oilseeds
crops is adequate to make the country self sufficient
is adopted by all the oilseeds producing farmer. The
present study was planned to improve the yield as
well as quality of oil in sunflower by evaluating
effect of Sulphar and Nitrogen on it.

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J of Biotech & Crop Sci (2016) 5(6): 47-51

MATERIALS AND METHODS Physiological characters were determined visually

when the back of the heads turn from green to lemon
The present investigation entitled was carried out yellow color, there was 5-6 green leaves at the top of
during zaid seasons of 2013-2014 and 2013-2014 on physiological maturity and all the leaves dried by
the Agriculture Research Farm, SMM town PG
College Ballia. The farm is situated in the North end Nutrient and their doses
N No Control
of Ballia City. The soil of the farm is sandy loam and N1 50 kg /ha
texture with well leveled and drained sub soil. N2 80 kg/ha
N3 120kg/ha
Experimental design and layout: The layout plan has S S0 Control
been drawn with full particulars as given in Table 1 S1 20 kg/ha
S2 40kg/ha
and the details are given below in the Table 1. S3 60 kg/ha

Table 1 Showing design and layout. harvest maturity. Generally 117-122 days after
Design Randomized block design sowing the maturity was achieved. The bundle
Plot size 2315
Field border 1m
obtained plotwise labled with the treatment marked
Main feeder 1m and carried to threshing floor. After the crop were
Sub feeder 0.5m harvested, the completely dried seed grains were
Net plot size 32m
No. of replication 4
separated and yield of grain and straw was separately
Path 0.5m recorded. Few disc from each treatment were
Spacing 5025cm separated and their weight were recorded. Their seeds
Variety Jwalamukhi
were kept for the further observations. Character
Seed rate 10 kg/ha
Season Zaid (Summer) including plants, the area of the expanded green
leaves was calculated by Treon Chand and Mehta
Treatment and Treatment Combinations: There are (1974)
several forms of sulphur and nitrogen containing
Physiological observation: Following physiological
fertilizer are available in markets , but only elemental
observations were recorded
sulphur ( S-95%) and urea ( N-46%) were selected
1. Growth parameters
for present experimentation.
(i) Height of shoot
Table 2 Showing Treatment Combinations. (ii) No of green leaves per plant
(iii) Leaf area (sq .cm.)
Treatment combination Treatment
N0S0 T1 (iv) Thickness of stem (cm)
NIS1 T2 2. Yield and yield attributes
N2S2 T3 (i) Diameter of head(cm)
N3S3 T4
N2S1 T5 (ii) Weight of head(gm)
N2S2 T6 (iii) No of grain pr head
N2S3 T7
N3S1 T8
(iv) Test weight of 1000 grains(gm)
N3S2 T9 (v) Yield of grain per plant (gm)
N3S3 T10 (vi) Yield per hectare (q)
(vii) Harvest index
Harvesting and threshing: The harvesting of crop 3 Quality characters
was done when plant become yellowish color and (i) Oil percentage
disc were ripened. (ii) Crude protein percentage
(iii) Chlorophyll content in leaves

48

Physiological Studies: Change induced in the
metabolism of sunflower plants were followed by
determination of fat content in grains. A brief outline
of the procedure is given below
Oil percentage: The determination of fat (oil) in the
grains was done by soxhlet apparatus which consist
of flask and tubes having amendonism of siphons and
condenser. Dried sample were finally powdered and
weight 5 gm. The material was quantitatively placed
to a cone shaped filter paper and whole content was
kept in soxhlet tube. Extractions were continued with
6.70 per cent alcohol the apparatus was allowed to
run for 5-6 hours and complete the extraction. The
extracts were replaced with fresh alcohol at the
interval of four hours to prevent overheating of the
extracted material. After extraction the flask
containing the extract was heated on an electric water
bath and freed from excessive alcohol.The quantity of
extract was determined and fat content of sample was
calculated on per cent dry weight basis
Crude Protein: Methods described by Dhopta and
Livera (1989) were used for crude protein contents in
grains.
Amino Acid content: Wang (1960) method was
followed for determination of amino acids. Amino
acid when heated within ninhydrin produces blue
colored substance (Rubiomous purple). The intensity
for colour is proportional to concentration of amino
acid presents. All except proline and hydro proline
gave purple colour with nintryhydrin. Proline and
hydrozyproline gave yellow color (Dhopta and Livera
1979)
Statistical analysis: The data collected from various
stages of experimental crop were subjected to
statistical analysis The different variable were
subjected to the analysis of variance and statistical
significance was calculated against error variance
as described by Panse and Sukhatme (1990). Critical
difference was calculated with the help of following
formulae to compare the values and to draw the
J of Biotech & Crop Sci (2016) 5(6): 47-51
interference Critical difference = total value of T at
5% or 1% of level of error degrees of freedom.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Study was planned to access the performance and
efficiency of Nitrogen and Sulphur and their
interaction in the respective doses applied through
urea and elemental sulphur on sunflower (Helianthus
annus L.) All the doses of sulphur were given before
sowing where as nitrogen at the age of 40 days was
applied. Besides, Neem cake @ 2q/ha was also
applied to check the termites and nematodes in the
soil. Plant sample obtained from various N and S
doses are presented as follows.
The plant height at 30, 60, and 90 days after sowing
exhibited tallest plant by treatment N 120 S60 followed
by N120 S40. Further, the increased doses of N and S
have significantly accelerated the height of plant. The
number and area of green leaves in the plant were
found to be stimulated due to increased N and S
application.
Judicious application of N and S applied in different
combination of doses revealed several interesting
finding on yield determining characters. The N80S40
treatment followed by N80S60 and N120S40 kg /ha
exhibited heavier and wider heads (discs) providing
better spaces in the formulation of more grains
resulting in higher yield. Maximum yield was
obtained due to T 6N80 treatment. Test weight was
high due to the treatment combination of N80S40
kg/ha. Average number of seeds /head and test weight
of 1000 grains were high due to N 80S40 kg/ha, N80S60
and N80S60. It was observed that N and S with their
different doses improved the quality characters like
oil percentage, crude protein and amino acids
contents of sunflower. Thus in addition to
improvement in seed yield, N and S also improved
the nutritive. Aulak (1989), Bhati and Rathaur (1982)
and Rathaur and Kumpawat (1992) also observed
that application of fertilizers especially urea and
sulphar increased the yield as well as quality of oil of
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J of Biotech & Crop Sci (2016) 5(6): 47-51
Mustard. However, the effect of S and N on
sunflower is being reported first time in Eastern Uttar
Pradesh.
Combination of N and S at lower does increased the
yield performance of sunflower as compared to the
control N0S0. Maximum numbers and weight gain
were obtained from the plant raised from N60S 40.
Lower doses of N and S also favored production of
more grain. Higher dose of these however, brought
inhibitory effects on the growth and yield of
sunflower. Treatment combination viz, N80S40,
N80S60, N120S40 and other treatment favored the
accumulation of oil crude protein and amino acid,
grains harvested from the N 80S40 observed
considerable improvement in the quality characters
of the grains as compared to other plant nutrient
combination treatment. In the present study we are
reporting that various combination of N and S due
effect the yield and yield components and also the
nutritive quality of the edible oil of sunflower. We
have to plan our specific objectives to achieve
specific results.
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