ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFECTS OF COMPLEX FOLIAR FERTILIZATION ON THE YIELD AND QUALITY OF SUNFLOWER SEEDS (HELIANTHUS ANNUUS L.)

This study aims to evaluate the effects of foliar fertilization (FF) on the yield and quality of sunflower seeds. Foliar fertilization (FF) applied to sunflower crops can have significant impacts on seed yield and quality, influencing their chemical composition and nutritional values. Unlike soil fertilization, which delivers nutrients through the root system, foliar fertilization supplies nutrients directly to the leaves, ensuring a rapid and efficient absorption of essential elements during critical growth stages. The study was conducted during the 2022 and 2023 agricultural seasons at the university's experimental field, using split plots with three replications and six fertilization variants. The experimental variants included: Control (Mt), V1-FF 10:10:10+ME (microelements), V2-FF 8:10:0+8B (boron)+ME, V3-FF 15:0:0+2S (sulfur)+1B+ME, V4-FF 15:0:0+4B+ME, and V5-FF 8:8:8+ME. FF treatments were applied during specific vegetative stages, with doses ranging from 2 to 6 L/ha depending on the chemical composition of each product. The application of foliar fertilization resulted in a positive increase in both yield and seed quality, as evidenced by quality parameters such as protein content, lipids, carbohydrates, fibers, and minerals. The results were analysed using both classical statistical methods and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) for a deeper understanding of the impact of foliar fertilization on the yield and quality of sunflower seeds.