EFFECT OF TILLAGE SYSTEMS AND FERTILIZERS ON GROWTH AND SEED YIELD OF SUNFLOWER CROP (Helianthus annuus L.)

Abstract

A field study was conducted at the experimental farm of the College of Agriculture, University of Baghdad Abu–Grab at latitude ˚33.22 N and longitude ˚44.24 E, during the spring seasons of the year (2006 and 2007) to study the effect of tillage systems and fertilizers on some growth traits and seed yield of sunflower crop (Helianthus annuus L.). A split-Plot arrangement in a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replicates was used. Three tillage systems treatments including, Mold board plow, Chisel plow with control treatments (no-tillage) were assigned in the main plots , and four fertilizers treatments including, cow and chicken manure chemical fertilizers with control treatments (no-fertilizer) in the sub- plots. L.S.D at (0.05) level were used to compare the means of treatments. During the flowering and maturity stage plant high , number of leaves leaf area, weight of dry matter of (leaves , stems , disks and roots) and seed yield were studied in this research. The experimental results showed the following: 1. Tillage treatments including Mold board plow influenced on the plant morphological characters plant high , number of leaves , leaf area, weight of dry mater and gave the highest seed yield (3.51 and 3.05 t/ha) compared with control treatment for the two seasons respectively. 2. Cow and chicken manure fertilizers showed improve in soil physical and chemical properties which reverse to improve plant growth traits and sunflower yield for the two seasons. 3. The interaction between tillage systems and organic fertilizers treatment was showed improvement in all plant growth traits and seed yield of sunflower crop for the two seasons also.