Performance of sunflower hybrids in rainfed vertisols situation under southern agro climatic zones of Tamil Nadu

Abstract

A field study was carried out to evaluate the yield potential of 10 sunflower hybrids under rainfed vertisols condition at Black Soil Farm, Agricultural Research Station, Kovilpatti, Tamil Nadu during Rabi Season of 2016 -18. The hybrids such as Krishian, Arathana, Ganga GK 2002, Suvathi, Sun bread 293, Sun bread 275, Arunodhaya, Sunny, Modern were compared with variety CO 2. Among the hybrids significantly higher plant height was recorded in CO 2 (123.7and 113.0 cm) and the lowest in sunny (91.1and 71.7 cm). However, maximum capitulum diameter was observed in Sunny (19.4 and 15.9 cm) and minimum in Sun bread 293 (11.3 and 11.1 cm). The early maturing varieties were modern (90 and 75 days). Among the hybrids significantly higher seed yield was observed in Suvathi (1157 and 979 kg/ha), Sun bread 275 (1174 and 1105 kg/ha) and Sunny (1235 and 1236 kg/ha) over variety CO2 (763 and 514 kg/ha). The highest oil content was in Sunny (37.3 and 37.6 %) followed by Krishna (35.6 and 35.4%) and Ganga GK 2002(35.5 and 35.4 %). However, the maximum oil yield was recorded in Sunny (461 and 465 kg/ha) over other hybrids.