engleski

Response of sunflower to foliar spraying with epsom salt (MgSO4.7H2O) solution

In general, agroecological conditions for sunflower growing in Croatia is favorable for sunflower growing, especially in the Eastern Croatia. Yield and quality of sunflower is possible to increase by improvement of soil and crop management practices including fertilization. Nine sunflower hybrids (Fakir, Orion, Olio, Šokac, Miro, Gordan, OS-H-433, Viki and Sunce - the hybrids of Osijek Agricultural Institute) were grown during the 1998 and 1999 growing seasons under field conditions on Osijek eutric cambisol (eight replications, experimental plot 19.6 m2, interrow spacing 70 cm, distance in row 22 cm = plant density 64,395/ha). Four replications were treated by 5% Epsom salt (Mgso4.7H2O)solution in butonization (middle June) and flowering (middle July) stages (400 l/ha), while remaing four replications used as a control. Sunflower was sown in term of third decade of April and harvested in term the first decade of October. There were determined sunflower properties as follows: grain yield (on 11% moisture basis), oil yield and oil contents. Oil contents were determined by NMR technics. By our testing were found influences of the growing seasons and genotype on sunflower response to foliar application of Epsom salt. In general, the growing season 1999 there were found not significant differences of tested properties between control and Epsom salt application, probably due to fact that environmental conditions, especially rainfall quantity and their distribution, were more favourable for sunflower growing. Also, this experiment conducted on soil characterizing normal nutritional status including adequate magnesium and sulphur supplies.Mean grain yield of sunflower achiewed by our testing was 3.058 kg/ha and 2,460 kg/ha, for the 1998 and 1999 growing season, respectively. By application of Epsom salt for the growing season 1998, sunflower grain yield increased for 280 kg/ha or about 10% compared with control, while for the 1999 growing season they were found similar values of grain yields. However, increase of oil yield for 123 kg/ha as affected by Epsom salt spraying (the growing season 1998) is non-significant difference, because similar oil contents (46.71 and 46.82%, for Epsom salt and control treatments, respectively).Similar testing could be to continue under soil conditions characterising moderate either magnesium or sulphur contents, while by our earlier testing with sugar beet was found that soil properties are important factor of plant response to Epsom salt foliar fertilization.

sunflower; hybrid; epsom salt; grain yield; content of oil; foliar spraying

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