Effect of biomass briquette ash on yield, nutrient uptake and quality of sunflower

Abstract

The study was carried out during the late Rabi season at Shankarnagar research farm, College of Agriculture, Nagpur, during 2023-24. The field experiment had eight treatments, replicated thrice in randomized block design. It includes recommended NP fertilizers (100%) through urea and single super phosphate with water soluble potassium (WSK) and total potassium (TP) provided through biomass briquette ash (BBA) at levels ranging from 50, 75 and 100 percent, compared to recommended NPK fertilizers and absolute control. The results revealed that, with increase in application of water soluble potassium (WSK) through biomass briquette ash (BBA) from 50-100 percent, with 100 percent recommended NP fertilizers, increased the seed and straw yields of sunflower. The maximum seed yield (22.03 q ha-1) and straw yield (38.92 q ha-1) was obtained for application of 100 percent recommended NP fertilizers combined with 100 percent water soluble potassium through biomass briquette ash over other levels except 75 and 50 percent WSK through BBA. This treatment recorded 82.21 percent seed and 103.8 percent straw yield higher over absolute control and 15.34 percent seed and 13.30 percent straw yield higher over recommended NPK fertilizer dose. The highest yield contributed due to number of capitula per plot (44.7), diameter of capitulum (18.66 cm) and capitulum yield (31.80 q ha-1) in this treatment. Maximum nutrient uptake, N (126.72 kg ha-1), P (26.63 kg ha-1), K (70.89 kg ha-1) and S (23.70 kg ha-1). The treatment also showed improvement in quality of seed maximum 100-seed weight (5.48 g), oil content (40.87%) and protein content (20.94%).