Influence of sunflower stover and nutrient management on growth, yield and energetics of sunflower (Helianthus annuus) in a pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan)- sunflower cropping system

Abstract

A fixed plot field experiment was carried out during kharif and spring seasons of 2008-09 and 2009-10 at New Delhi, to study the effect of sunflower stover and nutrient management on growth, yield and energy dynamics of sunflower in a pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] -sunflower (Helianthus annuus L). cropping system. Results revealed that residual effects of sunflower stover incorporation resulted in higher values of growth attributes, seed yield (2.45 tonnes/ha), oil content (41.3%) and energy use efficiency (8.3) in succeeding sunflower crop in a pigeonpeasunflower cropping system. Residual effect of sunflower stover incorporation increased seed yield of sunflower by 19.5% over the no stover incorporation. Among the P levels applied to preceding pigeonpea, residual effect of 30 kg P/ha recorded the highest values of growth parameters resulted in 23.3% increase in the seed yield of sunflower over the control. Direct effect of RD of N and P (80 kg N+15 kg P/ha) recorded the significantly higher values of growth parameters, seed (2.71 tonnes/ha) and stover (4.44 tonnes/ha) yields, oil (42.3 %) and protein (14.9%) contents and net energy output (120.0× 103 MJ/ha)). Increase in seed yield due to RD of NP was 12.4% and 66.3% higher than 50% RD of NP and control, respectively.