Effect of Mycorrhizal Inoculation (VAM) and Phosphorus Levels on Yield, Quality, Nutrient Uptake and Post Harvest Nutrient Status of Sunflower

The field experiment was conducted to study the effect of mycorrhizal inoculation (VAM) and different levels of phosphorus (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 kg/ha) on yield, quality, nutrient uptake and post-harvest nutrient status of hybrid sunflower cv. sunbred. The experiment was conducted in factorial randomized block design with two replications. The treatments consisted of 5 levels of P2O5 applied in the presence or absence of VAM inoculates. The results of experiment revealed that mycorrhizal inoculated plants produced maximum seed and stalk yield, oil content, oil yield, protein content, nutrient uptake than non mycorrhizal inoculation while nutrient availability were maximum in non mycorrhizal inoculation. Among the various phosphorus levels tried, P2O5 at 100 kg ha-1 recorded the maximum values for yield, quality, nutrient uptake while P2O5at 0 kg ha-1 registered maximum NPK availability over other levels. With regard to interaction effect, mycorrhizal inoculation with 100 kg ha-1 of P2O5 recorded maximum values for yield, quality and nutrient uptake of sunflower but it was on par with mycorrhizal inoculation with P2O5 at 75 kg ha-1. Non-mycorrhizal inoculation without P2O5 application recorded maximum values for post-harvest nutrient status of sunflower. Lowest values of yield, quality and nutrient uptake were recorded by non-mycorrhizal inoculation without P2O5. Mycorrhizal inoculation with P2O5 at 100 kg ha-1 recorded minimum values for post-harvest nutrient status of Sunflower.