Effect of organic and inorganic fertilizers on yield and economics of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) in rabi season

The field experiment was carried out during rabi 2022 at Experimental Farm of College of Agricultural Biotechnology, Latur to study the effect of organic and inorganic fertilizers on growth and yield of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) in rabi season. The soil of experimental plot was clayey in texture with chemical composition such as low in available nitrogen (125.44 kg ha-1), low in available phosphorous (12.50 kg ha-1) and very high in available potassium (327.41 kg ha-1). Available EC and OC in soil is 0.40 ds m-1 and 0.02% respectively. The soil was slightly alkaline in reaction having pH 7.48 and well drained favourable for optimum crop growth. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with three replications and eleven treatments. The treatment includes T1 - Control, T2 - Biochar (2.5 t ha-1), T3 - Biochar (5.0 t ha-1), T4 - Vermicompost (2.5 t ha-1), T5 - Biochar (2.5 t ha-1) + Vermicompost (2.5 t ha-1), T6 - Biochar (5.0 t ha-1) + Vermicompost (2.5 t ha-1), T7 - RDF 100%, T8 - RDF 100% + Biochar (2.5 t ha-1),T9 - RDF 100% + Biochar (5.0 t ha-1), T10 - RDF 50% + Biochar (2.5 t ha-1) + Vermicompost (2.5 t ha-1), T11 - RDF 50% + Biochar (5.0 t ha-1) + Vermicompost (2.5 t ha-1). The Experimental unit was gross and net plot size of each experimental unit was 5.4 m x 4.5 m and 4.2 m x 3.9 m, respectively. Sowing was done by dibbling method on 20th November, 2022 at spacing of 60 x 30 cm2 with seed rate 5 kg ha-1. The recommended dose of fertilizer 90:60:30 kg ha-1 was applied. The whole dose of PK applied as a basal and nitrogen is applied as per treatments. The application of biochar and vermicompost were taken as per the treatments and applied before sowing the seed. The crop was harvested on 10 March 2023. The result revealed that the application of RDF 100% + Biochar (5.0 t ha-1) (T9) recorded significantly highest seed yield (2435 kg ha-1), stalk yield (5739 kg ha-1) and biological yield (8174 kg ha-1), gross monetary return (164606 ₹/ha), net monetary return (112121 ₹/ha), Benefit cost ratio (3.14) which was found significantly superior over rest of treatments of the crop under study.