Response of Sunflower (Helianthus Annuus l.) Growth, Yield, and Oil Content to Varying Zinc Levels

Abstract

The experiment consists of four treatments of Zn levels, repeated three times. The variety HO-1 was treated with different Zn levels: Zn 1 = 00 kg per ha, Zn 2 = 6.5 kg per ha, Zn 3 = 7.5 kg per ha, and Zn 4 = 8.5 kg per ha. Experiment ANOVA revealed a significant difference (P<0.05) for all growth, yield, and oil content characteristics due to treatments. The results of treatment 4, where zinc was applied at a rate of 8.5 kg ha-1, showed the highest plant population (8.2 m-2), the tallest plant (223 cm), the maximum stem girth (9.6 cm), the maximum head diameter (38.8 cm), the maximum seeds per head (1586.7), the maximum seed weight per head (43.7 g), the seed index 1000-seed weight (29 g), the maximum seed yield (2556.7 kg per ha), and the highest oil content (40.36%). The minimum plant population was 5.2 m-2, the smallest plant was 168.3 cm, the minimum stem girth was 6.5 cm, the minimum head diameter was 19.4 cm, the minimum number of seeds per head was 1131.7, the minimum seed weight per head was 27 g, the seed index was 18 g, the minimum seed yield was 2039.7 kg/ha, and the minimum oil content was 35.41%. Therefore, we recommend applying 8.5 kg ha-1 of Zn to achieve better growth and higher seed yield and oil content (%) in sunflowers