Abstract

Field experiments were carried out at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, during the Northeast monsoon (October-December) seasons of 1997 and 1988 in split plot design to study the influence of plant population and N splits on seed, oil yield and economics of rainfed sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.). The main plot consisted of three plant poulations (1,33,333 plants ha", 1,11,111 plants ha and 88, 888 plants ha¹) and the sub plot treatments of six N split levels. - The results revealed that the seed, oil yield and economic return were higher at closer (30x25 cm) spacing in 1997 and at wider spacing (30 x 37.5 cm) in 1998 due to wider variation in rainfall distribution. In both years the spilt application of nitrogen resulted in higher seed, oil yield and economic return when compared to full basal application.

Keywords: Sunflower, Plant population, N splits, Seed yield, Oil yield and economics