Effect of bio-fertilizer and sulphur on growth and yield of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during Rabi season of 2023 at Crop Research Farm Department of Agronomy. The treatment consisted of three levels of Sulphur (20 kg/ha, 25 kg/ha and 30 kg/ha) and PSB – 20 g/kg, Azotobacter – 20 g/kg and PSB + Azotobacter – 20 g/kg (0.5%, 1% and 1.5%) along with recommended dose of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and control (60:80:60 NPK kg/ha), this experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design with ten treatment and replications thrice application Sulphur. The application of (PSB 20 g + Azotobacter 20 g) + Sulphur 25 kg/ha (Treatment 9) recorded significantly maximum plant height (135.41 cm), Plant dry weight (49.37 g/plant), seeds/capitulum (307.00), test weight (50.20 g), seed yield (8.56 q/ha), stover yield (31.26 q/ha) and harvest index (26.23%). It was concluded that for obtaining higher yield components with better quality of Sunflower application of (PSB 20 g + Azotobacter 20 g) + Sulphur 25 kg/ha was recommended.