Effect of Soil and Foliar Application of Nitrogen, Potassium and Molybdenum on Oil Content and Yield and Chemical Composition of Sunflower

Soil application of nitrogen, potassium and molybdenum significantly increased the oil yield and nitrogen uptake by sunflower. Foliar application of N and K tended to increase the oil yield. Oil and nitrogen content of sunflower seeds were also more due to soil as well as foliar application of N and K, but foliar application of Mo tended to decrease them. Soil application of N depressed the K content in seed and stalk but foliar treatment of N increased it. Total K uptake was significantly higher due to soil application of K and Mo which also significantly increased oil yield, total N and K uptake by seed, and total K uptake over soil application of K without Mo. Foliar application of K along with Mo significantly depressed oil yield during both the years of experimentation and total N and K uptake over foliar application of K without Mo.