Effect of Different Levels of Drip Irrigation and Fertigation on Growth and Yield of Sunflower in a Vertisol of Karnataka

Irrigation and fertilization are two of the most important methods through which farmers can manage productivity. Among various factors responsible for low yield in sunflower, management of fertilizers may be of much importance. A field experiment was conducted to study the “effect of levels of drip irrigation and fertigation on growth and yield of sunflower in a Vertisol”. The experiment was laid out in a strip plot design which was replicated thrice, with three main plots viz., surface drip irrigation at 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0 IW/CPE ratio and three sub plots viz., fertigation of 75 % RDF (F1) (67.5: 67.5: 45 kg N, P2O5 and K2O ha-1), 100 % RDF (F2) (90: 90: 60 kg N, P2O5 and K2O ha-1) and 125 % RDF (F3) (112.5: 112.5: 75 N, P2O5 and K2O ha-1) and control i.e surface furrow irrigation and manual fertilizer application of 100 % RDF. Drip irrigation at 1.0 IW/CPE ratio recorded significantly higher seed yield (34.4 q ha-1) and application of fertilizers at 125 % RDF (F3) through fertigation recorded higher seed yield (33.8 q ha-1). Interaction of drip irrigation at 1.0 IW/CPE ratio along with 125 % RDF (I3F3) recorded higher seed yield (36.9 q ha-1). However, manual application of 100 % RDF along with surface furrow irrigation recorded significantly lower growth attributes, yield attributes and seed yield.