Growth Response of Sunflower to Potassium Sulphate Application in Saline-sodic Soil

Aims: To evaluate the effect of SO42- and K+ application on growth of sunflower hybrids besides on growth parameters in a saline sodic soil.

Study Design: Laid out the experiment in Complete Randomized Design in triplicates, applying potassium sulphate in saline- sodic soil for the growth of sunflower.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in Soil Salinity and Bio-saline Research green house of Land Resources Research Institute at National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad, Pakistan during the period from January to March, 2018.

Methodology: Applied potassium sulphate @ 50 mg kg-1 in saline- sodic soil (ECe = 6.5dS m-1, pH = 7.7, SAR = 17) for the growth of sunflower hybrids viz. SMH-9706 and PARSUN-3.

Results: Sunflower responded significantly (P = 0.01) for growth and chemical parameters. Fresh and dry mass of PARSUN-3 were higher 14 and 12 percent respectively than that of SMH-9706. Sulphur and potassium ions uptakes were higher 32 and 22 percent respectively in PARSUN-3 than SMH-9706. Sulphur and potassium decreased Na+/K+ ratio in both the hybrids.

However, this decline was higher in PARSUN-3 than SMH-9706.

Conclusion: This study identified the way to evaluate promising genotypes of sunflower for growth and production with sulphur and potassium nutrition under saline sodic soil.