EFFECTS OF PLANT POPULATION AND ROW SPACING ON SUNFLOWER AGRONOMY

Abstract
Studies at Hyderabad, India, and Swift Current, Saskatchewan, Canada, have shown that sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) can be grown under dryland conditions over a wide range of plant populations and row spacings. At Hyderabad, yield plateaus of approximately 900 and 1,350 kg/ha existed over population ranges of 18,000 to 32,000 and 56,000 to 98,000 plants/ha, respectively. At Swift Current, yields from a 25,000 plants/ha population were 28% higher than those of a 125,000. plants/ha population, but were not significantly different from the mid-range 75,000 plants/ha. Population also influenced growth characteristics such as plant height and stem diameter and the rates of development. The crop showed a remarkable tolerance to drought and the ability to recover after periods of extreme moisture stress. Populations of 60,000 to 75,000 plants/ha at row spacings of 35 to 60 cm are recommended for dryland production.

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