Vol. 9, Issue 10 (2020)

Author(s):
SA Bhusari, SR Gaikwad, SG Mane and SS Karpe

Abstract:
A field experiment was carried out at Experimental Farm, College of Agriculture, Vasantrao Naik Krishi Vidyapeeth, Latur to study the response of sunflower to different mulching and moisture conservation practices during the year of 2014-2015. The experiment field was uniform and levelled. The soil was clay loam in texture, low in available nitrogen, medium in available phosphorus, high in available potash and alkaline in reaction. The mean rainfall during crop growth period is 341.4 mm and 25 rainy days. The months of July, August and September were humid and moisture index is positive. However the rest of the period is dry. Long dry spell observed during the growth period. Gross plot size was 5.4 m x 4.2 m and net plot size was 4.2 m x 3.6 m. There were seven treatments which replicated three times in Randomised Block Design. The treatments were No mulching, Straw mulching, Dust mulching, Incorporation of FYM in soil@5t ha^-1., Opening of alternate furrows(30DAS), Opening of furrows after four rows, and In situ weed mulching. The sowing of crop was done on 13^th July 2014 by dibbling method at 30 x10 cm spacing and harvesting was done on 20^th October 2014.The opening of alternate furrows (30DAS) recorded higher plant height(153.2cm), number of functional leaves plant^-1(24.3),dry matter plant^-1 (153g), head diameter (18.2cm), leaf area index (3.27), percent filled seeds (83.9) and seed yield (1497 kg ha^-1).