Indian Journal of Agricultural Research

A field experiment was conducted on sunflower (Helianthus annuus L., cv. MSFH-17) during two consecutive summer seasons of 2006 and 2007. The field experiment was designed in split-plot, integrated nutrient management, INM [N₀ -recommended dose of N, P₂O₅ and K₂O @ 60:40:40 kg ha⁻¹, without any organic matter, N₁ to N₃ -25% N through vermicompost, leafcompost and sewage-sludge compost and rest 75% N + full recommended dose of P₂O₅ and K₂O through chemical fertilizers was applied to N₁ to N₃ treatments, respectively] was evaluated in main-plot and 5 different scheduling of irrigation [W₀-grown as rainfed, W₁ to W₄ -irrigation at 0.5, 0.75, 1.00 and 1.25 IW/CPE ratio, respectively] in sub-plot treatment. Result reveals that the application of different INM packages and water regimes markedly influenced the concentration of nutrients in seeds as well as in stover, and uptake of nutrients by sunflower plants, after harvest. Likewise, residual major soil nutrients (organic C, organic matter and total N, and available P and K) were also influenced greatly due to different nutrient management practices and moisture levels, in which highest values of concentration and uptake as well as residual major soil nutrients exhibited with the application of vermicompost + chemical fertilizers irrigated at IW:CPE ratio 1.0.