Sains Malaysiana 45(10)(2016): 1497–1507

 

Foliar Boron Spray for Improved Yield, Oil Quality and Water Use Efficiency in Water Stressed Sunflower

(Semburan Boron Daun untuk Hasil yang Lebih Baik, Kualiti Minyak dan Kecekapan Penggunaan Air dalam Bunga Matahari Bertekanan Air)

 

MUHAMMAD ASIF SHEHZAD¹*, MUHAMMAD MAQSOOD¹, TASAWER ABBAS¹

& NAVEED AHMAD²

 

¹Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad-38040, Pakistan

 

²Edible Fats & Oils Laboratory, NIFSAT, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad-38040, Pakistan

 

Received: 12 May 2015/Accepted: 10 March 2016

 

ABSTRACT

Boron (B) is a mineral considered essential for improving sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) resistance to drought. B supplements (0, 15-, 30- and 45 mg L^-1) under well-watered and variable water deficit levels (64 and 53 mm irrigation depths) were evaluated for their effects on growth, oil quality and water use efficiency (WUE) in a field study for two consecutive years (i.e. 2011 and 2012). The duration of 50% inflorescence emergence, 50% flowering and 50% maturity stages were reduced with increasing moisture stress. All B application rates improved sunflower growth compared to no B control treatment. The moisture deficit treatments of 64 and 53 mm irrigation depths significantly (p<0.05) reduced the yield-related components. Achenes/head, achenes weight and achene yield under water stress conditions were considerably improved by foliar application of B at 30 mg L^-1. An increase in protein contents and a decrease in oil contents were observed with B foliar application under moisture deficit treatments. Foliar application of B (30 mg L^-1) on water stressed plants also resulted in increased WUE. The highest net benefits were achieved with B concentration of 30 mg L^-1 under well-watered and mild deficit water level of 64 mm irrigation depth. The highest application rate of B (45 mg L^-1) gave the best results at the most severe water deficit level. In conclusion, the B rates of 30 and 41 mg L^-1 performed best for improving drought tolerance in terms of higher sunflower productivity under mild and higher water deficit conditions.

 

Keywords: Boron; fatty acids; Helianthus annuus; water deficit; water use efficiency

 

ABSTRAK

Boron (B) adalah mineral yang dianggap penting bagi meningkatkan rintangan bunga matahari (Helianthus annuus L.) kepada kemarau. B tambahan (0, 15, 30 dan 45 mg L-1) paras defisit air baik dan berubah-ubah (64 dan 53 mm kedalaman pengairan) telah dinilai untuk melihat kesannya terhadap pertumbuhan, kualiti minyak dan kecekapan penggunaan air (WUE) dalam kajian lapangan selama dua tahun berturut-turut (2011 dan 2012). Peringkat tempoh 50% kemunculan perbungaan, 50% perbungaan dan 50% matang telah dikurangkan dengan meningkatkan tekanan lembapan. Semua kadar penggunaan B meningkatkan pertumbuhan bunga matahari berbanding rawatan tanpa kawalan B. Rawatan kekurangan lembapan dengan kedalaman pengairan 64 dan 53 mm (p<0.05) dengan ketaranya mengurangkan hasil berkaitan komponen. Aken/kepala, berat aken dan hasil aken dalam keadaan bertekanan air telah bertambah baik dengan penggunaan daun B pada 30 mg L^-1. Peningkatan kandungan protein dan penurunan kandungan minyak diperhatikan dengan penggunaan daun B pada rawatan defisit lembapan. Penggunaan daun B (30 mg L^-1) pada tumbuh-tumbuhan bertekanan air telah meningkatkan WUE. Faedah bersih tertinggi dicapai dengan kepekatan B 30 mg L^-1 dengan paras air baik dan sederhana defisit pada kedalaman saliran 64 mm. Kadar aplikasi tertinggi B (45 mg L^-1) memberikan hasil terbaik pada peringkat defisit air paling teruk. Kesimpulannya, kadar B pada 30 dan 41 mg L^-1 adalah terbaik untuk memperbaiki toleransi kemarau daripada segi produktiviti bunga matahari dalam keadaan defisit air sederhana dan tinggi.

 

Kata kunci: Asid lemak; boron; defisit air; Helianthus annuus; kecekapan penggunaan air

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*Corresponding author; email: asifbukhari01@gmail.com