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has been cited by the following article:

• TITLE: Differential Growth and Development Response of Sunflower Hybrid in Contrasting Irrigation Regimes

  AUTHORS: Amjed Ali, Ijaz Rasool Noorka

  KEYWORDS: Growth; Irrigation; Leaf Area Index; Yield

  JOURNAL NAME: American Journal of Plant Sciences, Vol.4 No.5, May 29, 2013

  ABSTRACT: Water is the most important factor limiting crop productivity at different growth stages of crop growth and development. The study was conducted to investigate the effect of irrigation scheduling on sunflower hybrid (Hysun-38) at vegetative versus reproductive stages during spring season 2010. The trial was laid out in randomized complete block design (factorial arrangement), replicated thrice, having net plot size of 3.5 m × 9 m. The treatments comprised of irrigation application of 75 mm each, at different growth and development stages. viz., I1 = irrigation at plant establishment, I2 = irrigation at plant establishment and irrigation at vegetative phase, I3 = irrigation at plant establishment, irrigation at button stage and irrigation at flowering, and I4 = irrigation at plant establishment, irrigation at vegetative phase, irrigation at button stage and irrigation at achene’s formation. Days taken to 50% flowering was highest in I2, where irrigation was applied at plant establishment and vegetative phase, and in I4 treatment , where irrigation was given at seedling establishment, irrigation at vegetative phase, irrigation at button stage and irrigation at achene’s formation. Leaf area index at different growth intervals was significantly affected by irrigation levels. Crop growth rate was highest for treatment I4. Plant height (PH), stem girth (SG) head diameter (HD), 1000-achene’s weight (AW) and achene’s yield (AY) were significantly affected by different irrigation levels at various growth stages. Maximum AY (2415.68 kg·ha-1) was obtained in I4 treatment while, minimum AY (1275.35 kg·ha-1) was obtained in case of those plots which were irrigated only at plant establishment stage. Sunflower productivity was affected with irrigation regime at different growth stages with the strongest responses seen at early growth stages which ultimately affected the final achene yield adversely.