Department of Agronomy, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi - 221005, U.P.
*Corresponding author's
1Present address: Department of Agronomy, Udai Pratap College, Varanasi - 221002, U.P.
A field trial was conducted to study the effect of plant spacing on growth and yield of different restorer lines of sunflower hybrids during the winter season of 1996–97 and 1998–99 at BHU Research Farm, Varanasi. Significant variation in restorer lines in all the physiological and reproductive characters were observed during both the years. Among the restorer lines, 6D-1 recorded the highest leaf area index, crop growth rate, net assimilation rate, more number of seeds capitulum−1 (365.8), 1000-seed weight (44.08 g) and seed yield plant−1 (12.69 g) than AK-1R and P-35 R. This ultimately led to maximum seed yield (10.8 q ha−1) by 6D-1. Similarly, spacing S1 (40 × 15 cm) registered 63.4, 50.9 and 20.0% more seed yield than S4(70 × 20 cm), S3(60 × 20 cm) and S2(50 × 15 cm) respectively. It was further observed that plant population had a linear functional relationship with seed yield (Y = 3.73 + 4.52x).
Plant spacing, restorer line, seed quality, sunflower
