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Some factors influencing the development of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) under dry-farming systems in Sudan
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 27 March 2009
Summary
An experiment was carried out over a 3-year period at two locations in the central rainlands of Sudan under rainfed conditions at one site and under supplementary irrigation at the other to study the effects of cultivars and cultural practices on growth and grain yield of sunflower. Four cultivars, namely, Manohurian, Peredovik, Hungarian-A and Hungarian-B and four intra-row spacings of 15, 30, 45 and 60 cm (in rows 60 cm apart) were tested with three sowing dates starting on 15 July and following at 15-day intervals. Manchurian outyielded the other three varieties under supplementary irrigation whereas under rainfed conditions the reverse was true. This was attributed to the relative earliness in flowering of the varieties and their moisture requirements. Manchurian was the tallest with the thickest stem and a larger head at both locations compared with the other three varieties. Under rainfed conditions, the early sowing date of 15 July gave a significantly higher grain yield than the other two sowing dates, with the last sowing date of 15 August giving significantly least. This is attributed to decreasing moisture availability with delayed sowings. But under supplementary irrigation the effect of sowing date was less marked. Contrasting effects of sowing dates on plant height and stem circumference were obtained under the two systems of production. Under rainfed conditions there was a decrease in plant height and stem circumference with delayed sowing, whereas under supplementary irrigation the reverse was true. A contrasting response of plant height to spacing was also obtained; wider intra-row spacing was associated with taller plants under rainfed conditions and shorter plants under supplementary irrigation. Wider spacing was associated with thicker stems and larger heads at both locations. On the evidence obtained, 45 cm intra-row spacing is recommended for rainfed planting and 30 cm intra-row spacing for irrigated production of sunflower.
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