Screening of Sunflower Genotypes for Potassium Use Efficiency in Irrigated Soil Condition

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during summer 2016 to screen out sunflower (Helianthus annuusL.) genotypes for their potassium (K) use efficiency ratio. Eight sunflower genotypes were tested; Samsung 20, Mehran 2, Ho-1, Melabour, Samsung 30, Valugur, Chinika and Sputnik in randomised complete block design (RCBD) with the two treatments comprised of potassium at (50 and 0 kg K ha-1) along with source (SOP) recommended dose fertilizer respectively. The results revealed that the treated and control plots (50 and 0 kg K ha-1) produced different values for of seeds (1763.1 and 1588.5 head-1), shoot dry weight (23.0 and 19.11 g), head diameter (17.45 and 15.72 cm), seed yields (2065.8 and 1918.7 kg ha-1), seed K % (0.60 and 0.30%) and diagnostic tissue % (3.54 and 2.65%) respectively. The considerable increase was found in seeds head-1(10.99%), shoot dry weight (20.35%), head diameter (11.01%), seed yields (11.31%) seed K % (100%), and leaf K % (33.58%). Among genotypes, Ho-1 was highly efficient to utilize added K fertilizer more seed (2039.7 head-1), shoot dry weight (25.86 g), plant height (188.66 cm), head diameter (20.20 cm), seed yields (2409.5 kg hat-1). Moreover seed K % and leaf K % was also high in variety Ho_1 (0.65% and (5.05%) respectively. Among all the sunflower tested genotypes Ho-1 showed significant response applied K but the variety Ho-1 and genotype Chinika were more efficient in utilization of K.