~ 2898 ~ Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry 2018; 7(4): 2898-2901 E-ISSN: 2278-4136 P-ISSN: 2349-8234 JPP 2018; 7(4): 2898-2901 Received: 14-05-2018 Accepted: 18-06-2018 Pabitra Adhikary North 24 Parganas Krishi Vigyan Kendra, WBUAFS, Ashokenagar, West Bengal, India Partha Sarathi Patra Department of Agronomy, Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Pundibari, West Bengal, India Hasim Reja Department of Agronomy, BCKV, Mohanpur, West Bengal, India Sukanta Saren North 24 Parganas Krishi Vigyan Kendra, WBUAFS, Ashokenagar, West Bengal, India Babulal Tudu North 24 Parganas Krishi Vigyan Kendra, WBUAFS, Ashokenagar, West Bengal, India Correspondence Pabitra Adhikary North 24 Parganas Krishi Vigyan Kendra, WBUAFS, Ashokenagar, West Bengal, India Response of sunflower to different ratios of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium fertilizer Pabitra Adhikary, Partha Sarathi Patra, Hasim Reja, Sukanta Saren and Babulal Tudu Abstract The experiment was conducted during two consecutive rabi seasons of 2013 and 2014 at the Krishi Vigyan Kendra Farm, Ashokenagar, West Bengal, India to determine the effect of omitted nutrients on productivity of sunflower. The influence of nutrient omissions on the soil health was also determined. The results clearly indicated positive response of NPK fertilization to sunflower. Ample NPK (125% RDF) recorded maximum plant height (1.69 m), basal girth (9.08 cm) and capitulam diameter (17.15 cm) and differed significantly from other treatments. Nutrient omitted plots showed significant reduction in growth attributes over ample NPK (N100P50K50). Sunflower plants produced higher yield attributes (972.14 seeds capitulum -1 , 75.74 g seed weight capitulum -1 and 5.84 g for 100 seed weight and seed yield (1723.27 kg ha -1 ) of sunflower under application of N100P50K50. Actual balance of N in postharvest soil was positive in plots fertilized with 100% RDF (N80P40K40) and P and K-omitted plots. There was actual gain of P status of post-harvest soil in all the treatments, except P-omitted plots. However, the actual balance of K was negative irrespective of treatments. Keywords: sunflower, nutrient management, seed yield Introduction Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is one of the most important oilseeds that contribute considerably to edible oil in the world with an intermediate water requirement. Sunflower is the fourth oilseed crop grown worldwide by area (Fagundes et al., 2007). Because of its short duration life cycle, and photo and thermo insensitivity, the crop has wider adaptability in different agro-climatic regions and soil types. Sunflower has the ability to extract stored soil water in the deeper soil profile. Sunflower has well-developed and branched root system, and maintains open stomata under condition of high evaporation demands that usually prevail in hot arid and semi arid regions. Presently in India sunflower is grown over an area of 0.55 million hectares with a production of 0.42 million tonnes and a productivity of 753 kg ha -1 (Anon, 2016) [5] which is far below than its potential. The lower productivity is mainly due to lack of high yielding varieties, its cultivation on marginal lands with inadequate nutrients, non- adoption of proper crop rotation and weed management practices and also continuous use of inorganic fertilizer deteriorates soil health and also which makes soil unproductive for next season. Sunflower, being deep-rooted crop, is very much responsive to nutrients. Application of fertilizers having nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorous and potash can increase sunflower growth and yield substantially (Cechin & Fumis, 2004 and Sadras, 2006) [9, 21] . Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are the major plant nutrients essential for crop growth and development. Excess or deficiency of any one of these nutrients can cause excessive or stunted growth, leaving plants vulnerable to attack from various diseases and pests (Bakht et al., 2010) [6] . Role of plant nutrients is of paramount importance, and balanced use of fertilizer could be one of the options to increase nutrient use efficiency (NUE). Nitrogen is the most important nutrient, which determines the growth of the oilseed crops and increases the amount of protein and the yield. Furthermore, N fertilizer application affects dry matter production as well as N accumulation and partitioning into various parts of crop plants for the growth, development and other processes (Khaliq and Cheema, 2005) [14] . Phosphorus is the second major nutrient after nitrogen in limiting the sunflower production as phosphorus is more prone for fixation rendering it as non-available to plants due to many soil reactions and interactions with other elements. Differential influence of N/P fertilizer ratios with same and different levels of nitrogen and phosphorus exists with respect to the crops, varieties and climate (NAAS, 2009) [17] . Application of K fertilizer was found to be particularly effective with respect to yield formation in sunflower (Amanullah and Khan, 2011) [4] . Phosphorus and potash are known to be efficiently utilized in the presence of nitrogen.