Comparative studies of Cyanopith and Cyanospray Biofertilizers with chemical fertilizers on Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

The cyanopith (basal) and cyanospray (spray) were produced by biodegradation of coir pith using fresh water cyanobacterium (Oscillatoria annae). Field experiments were carried out to optimize the concentrations of cyanospray as foliar spray and cyanopith as basal, separately and in combination, for the cultivation of sunflower (H. annuus L.). The effect of coir pith based cyanobacterial biofertilizer on agronomic traits and seed yield were studied and compared with that of the control and the chemical fertilizer treated H. annuus L. In present investigation, the results showed significant improvement in both morphometric and yield parameters in the plants treated with coir pith based cyanobacterial biofertilizer than that of control and the chemical fertilizer treated H. annuus L. and thus, it could be used as substitute for chemical fertilizer.