Optimizing Water Use Efficiency and Yield Responses of Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) under Different Irrigation Regimes in Dry Season of Myanmar
Ei Ei Cho
*
Department of Soil and Water Science, Yezin Agricultural University, Myanmar.
Yinn Mar Soe
Department of Soil and Water Science, Yezin Agricultural University, Myanmar.
Swe Swe Mar
Department of Soil and Water Science, Yezin Agricultural University, Myanmar.
San Shwe Myint
Department of Horticulture, Yezin Agricultural University, Myanmar.
Kyaw Ngwe
Department of Soil and Water Science, Yezin Agricultural University, Myanmar.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Obtaining the maximum yield of the hybrid sunflower for the specific growing conditions is related to the optimum provision of water to plants from sowing until seed maturity. The pot and field experiments were conducted on clay loam soil of the dry season of Myanmar in 2024 to study plant growth and yield responses of the hybrid sunflower under different irrigation regimes. Two experiments were conducted in a randomized complete block design with four irrigation regimes by using Hybrid Sunflower (Yezin 1). The treatments were irrigated at 10 - 15% Soil Moisture Depletion (SMD) (I1), 20 - 25% SMD (I2), 40 - 45% SMD (I3), and 60 - 65% SMD (I4). In both experiments, the increase in irrigation frequency increased plant growth and crop yield. Similarly, yield had a positive correlation(R2=0.9905) with water use efficiency. The Hybrid Sunflower (Yezin 1) gave a maximum plant growth and seed yield (1933.60 kg ha-1) and saved irrigation frequency at 40 - 45 % SMD. It is suggested that the Hybrid Sunflower withstands moderate water stress conditions in the study area.
Keywords: Hybrid sunflower, water use efficiency, plant growth, seed yield