Foliar boron spray for improved yield, oil quality and water use efficiency in water stressed sunflower

Shehzad, Muhammad Asif and Maqsood, Muhammad and Abbas, Tasawer and Ahmad, Naveed (2016) Foliar boron spray for improved yield, oil quality and water use efficiency in water stressed sunflower. Sains Malaysiana, 45 (10). pp. 1497-1507. ISSN 0126-6039

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Abstract

Boron (B) is a mineral considered essential for improving sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) resistance to drought. B supplements (0, 15-, 30- and 45 mg L-1) under well-watered and variable water deficit levels (64 and 53 mm irrigation depths) were evaluated for their effects on growth, oil quality and water use efficiency (WUE) in a field study for two consecutive years (i.e. 2011 and 2012). The duration of 50% inflorescence emergence, 50% flowering and 50% maturity stages were reduced with increasing moisture stress. All B application rates improved sunflower growth compared to no B control treatment. The moisture deficit treatments of 64 and 53 mm irrigation depths significantly (p<0.05) reduced the yield-related components. Achenes/head, achenes weight and achene yield under water stress conditions were considerably improved by foliar application of B at 30 mg L-1. An increase in protein contents and a decrease in oil contents were observed with B foliar application under moisture deficit treatments. Foliar application of B (30 mg L-1) on water stressed plants also resulted in increased WUE. The highest net benefits were achieved with B concentration of 30 mg L-1 under well-watered and mild deficit water level of 64 mm irrigation depth. The highest application rate of B (45 mg L-1) gave the best results at the most severe water deficit level. In conclusion, the B rates of 30 and 41 mg L-1 performed best for improving drought tolerance in terms of higher sunflower productivity under mild and higher water deficit conditions.

Item Type:Article
Keywords:Boron; Fatty acids; Helianthus annuus; Water deficit; Water use efficiency
Journal:Sains Malaysiana
ID Code:10294
Deposited By: ms aida -
Deposited On:05 Apr 2017 03:40
Last Modified:06 Apr 2017 09:11

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