Comparative efficiency of exotic and indigenous nutrient sources to improve growth and yield of sunflower

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is an important oilseed crop suited to agro-climatic conditions and prevailing cropping systems in Pakistan. Although, sunflower is one of the most popular sources of vegetable oil in Pakistan but its potential yield is very low. The present experiment was conducted to compare the effect of exotic and indigenous nutrient supplement materials for improving the growth and yield of sunflower. For this purpose, non-saline and non-sodic soil was collected and filled in the pots. Two nutrient supplement materials (one exotic "keyplex" and other indigenous "boll guard") were tested through foliar and soil treatment for their efficiency. These materials were applied thrice during the crop tenure. The experiment was comprised of 13 treatments replicated thrice; T1= control, T2= foliar application of keyplex @ 1% solution, T3= foliar application of keyplex @ 1.5 % solution, T4= foliar application of keyplex @ 2% solution, T5= soil application of keyplex @ 1% solution, T6= soil application of keyplex @ 1.5% solution, T7= soil application of keyplex @ 2% solution, T8= foliar application of boll guard @ 1% solution, T9= foliar application of boll guard @ 1.5% solution, T10= foliar application of boll guard @ 2% solution, T11= soil application of boll guard @ 1% solution, T12 = soil application of boll guard @ 1.5% solution and T13= soil application of boll guard @ 2% solution. It was depicted from the data that maximum value of 1000-achene weight (93.2g), achene number per head (478 achene), achene yield (23.74 g per pot) were recorded in T10 (Foliar application of indigenous nutrient supplements @ 2%) while minimum values were found in T1 where no nutrient supplement was applied.