Department of Soils, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, 141 004.
* Department of Plant Breeding.
In field experiments conducted for three years significant yield response to N and P was observed up to 60 kg N and 30 kg P2O5 ha−1. Total N and P uptake also increased significantly with the applied nutrients. N application, in the absence of P, decreased oil percentage in sunflower seed. P application up to 30 kg P2O5 ha−1 resulted in significant increase in oil content. Oleic acid: linoleic acid ratio increased due to N application indicating improvement in stability and cooking quality of oil. Nitrogen seems to playa vital role in increasing the proportion of unsaturated fatty acids which is a major factor determining the quality of sunflower oil.
Sunflower, grain yield, N and P uptake, quality of oil
