Tropentag, September 14 - 16, 2010 in Zurich "World Food System – A Contribution from Europe"

Effect of Organic, Chemical and Integrated Fertilisers on Quantitative Traits of Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L. cv. Alestar)

Tarbiat Modares University, Department of Agronomy, Iran

Abstract

A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of organic manure (farmyard manure (FYM), biofertiliser (Azotobacter and Azospririllum)), green manure (winter wheat), and chemical and integrated fertiliser systems on the quantitative traits of sunflower (\textit{Helianthus annuus} L. cv. Alestar). The experiment was carried out on the experimental farm at the faculty of agriculture of the Tarbiat Modares University (35º44'N, 51º10'E, and 1352 m asl) of Iran in 2008. This location is located in a semi arid zone and characterised by warm and dry summers. The experimental design was a split plot with randomised complete blocks and three replications, in which seven fertiliser treatments were the main plot units: F1 (100% organic, i.e. farmyard manure was applied at the rate of 48 t ha^-1), F2 (75% organic + 25% chemical), F3 (50% organic + 50% chemical), F4 (25% organic + 75% chemical), F5 (100% chemical, i.e. urea was applied at the rate of 240 kg ha^-1), F6 (50% organic + 50% chemical + green manure), F7 (75% organic + 25% chemical + green manure), and two levels of biofertiliser I1 (inoculation) and I0 (control) were the sub plot units.
Grain yield and yield components (head diameter, seed number/ head, 1000 seed weight), plant height, leaf area, biological yield and harvest index (HI) were measured. The results showed that the grain yield in integrated systems was significantly more than organic and chemical systems (F6>F3>F4>F7>F2>F5>F1) and all yield components were the highest in F6 treatment. The results also revealed that inoculation of biofertiliser improved the quantitative traits of sunflower and significantly increased grain and biological yield (6% and 5%, respectively), leaf area (11%), plant height (5%) and yield components compared with untreated plants. Overall, using of integrated systems (chemical, organic and biofertiliser) and planting winter cereals as a green manure before main crop would not only increase grain yield but also would reduce usage of chemical fertilisers and bring us closer to sustainable agriculture.

Keywords: Biofertiliser, grain yield, green manure, integrated systems, sunflower

Contact Address: Sanaz Shoghi Kalkhoran, Tarbiat Modares University, Department of Agronomy, Jalal-Ale Ahmad Nasr Bridge, 1411713116 Tehran, Iran, e-mail: shoghimodares.ac.ir