Formation of quantitative and qualitative parameters of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) after application of stimulating substances

Abstract

A small-plot field experiment with sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) was carried out at the research base of the Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra. The experimental area is characterized as a warm and dry agroclimatic region with silt loam Haplic Luvisol. The realized field experiment was aimed at evaluating the quantitative and qualitative production parameters in the conditions of differentiated agroecological factors of the environment and the influence of stimulating substances on the formation of the final production. Within the evaluated parameters, a highly significant influence of year (P 0.05) in the parameter of number of plants per unit area. Agroecologically more favourable environmental conditions were recorded in 2019, when a higher number of plants (+1 173 pcs/ha; rel. 1.93%), higher head diameter (+14.81 mm; rel. 5.72%), thousand seeds weight (TSW) (+9.84 g; rel. 11.66%), oil content (+2.11%; rel. 4.81%) was indicated. Statistical analysis of the experimental results confirmed a highly significant influence of stimulating substances (P 0.05) on the formation of the number of plants per unit area, head diameter and seed yield. In the range of applied stimulating substances, the treatment T1 (preparation P1 applied in the phase of 6 – 8 leaves in dose of 0.2 l/ha) was recorded as the most effective treatment, where the highest number of plants (+1 106 pcs/ha; rel. 1.84%), head diameter (+31.17 mm; rel. 13.38%), TSW (+15.60 g; rel. 21.28%), seed yield (+0.43 t/ha; rel. 11.83%) was indicated. The implementation of stimulating substances can be considered as a rationalizing element of the cultivation technology of sunflowers.

Keywords

• oil content
• stimulating substances
• sunflower
• yield-forming parameters