Effect of Different Levels of Nitrogen and Sulphur on Productivity and Quality of Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) in Central Plain Zone of Uttar Pradesh, India

Abstract

Nitrogen (N) and sulphur (S) are essential macronutrients that play pivotal roles in regulating crop growth, yield formation, and oil synthesis in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.). A field experiment was conducted during the Zaid season of 2025 at the Crop Research Farm, School of Advanced Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SAAST), Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India, to evaluate the effects of graded N and S levels on the productivity and quality of sunflower under the Central Plain Zone of Uttar Pradesh. The experiment comprised ten treatment combinations, including an untreated control (T₀) and nine combinations of N and S, with three replications, and was laid out in a randomised block design (RBD) using sunflower cultivar DRSH-1. Among the treatment combinations, the application of N @ 120 kg ha⁻¹ + S @ 50 kg ha⁻¹ (T₉) resulted in the highest plant height (167.81 cm), number of leaves plant⁻¹ (29.3), dry matter accumulation (43.86 g m⁻²), head diameter (20.64 cm), seed yield (2108 kg ha⁻¹), stover yield (4365 kg ha⁻¹), biological yield (6473 kg ha⁻¹), and oil yield (853.33 kg ha⁻¹). In contrast, the maximum oil content (40.76%) was recorded with N @ 90 kg ha⁻¹ + S @ 50 kg ha⁻¹ (T₈). Overall, the application of N @ 120 kg ha⁻¹ + S @ 50 kg ha⁻¹ demonstrated superior performance in enhancing sunflower growth, yield attributes, seed and biomass productivity, and oil yield under the agro-climatic conditions of the Central Plain Zone of Uttar Pradesh. The findings suggest that balanced N and S nutrition can substantially improve sunflower productivity and oil production in the region.