RESPONSE OF SUNFLOWER (HELIANTHUS-ANNUUS) HYBRIDS TO NITROGEN AND PHOSPHORUS IN RAIN-FED CONDITIONS

A field experiment conducted during 1987-88 to 1989-90 at Parbhani rev ealed that the sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) hybrid 'MSFH 1' gave s ignificantly higher grain yield (1,153 kg/ha) than 'BSH 1'. An applica tion of 80 kg N/ha recorded significantly higher grain yield of 1,146 kg/ha over lower levels. Similarly, application of 80 kg P2O5/ha produ ced significantly higher grain yield of 1,138 kg/ha over lower levels. 'MSFH 1' recorded higher moisture use (645 mm) and moisture-use effic iency (1.32 kg/mm-ha) than 'BSH 1'. Nitrogen level @ 120 kg/ha recorde d the highest moisture use of 656 mm, whereas 80 kg N/ha recorded the highest moisture-use efficiency of 1.33 kg/mm-ha. Similarly, applicati on of 120 kg P2O5/ha consumed the highest moisture of 650 mm and recor ded the highest moisture-use efficiency of 1.41 kg/mm-ha.