Zinc application effects on yield and seed oil content of sunflower grown on a saline calcareous soil

Two field experiments (2000-2001 and 2001-2002) were conducted at two nearby fields in the Qanavat region of Qom province, central Iran, to investigate the effects of zinc (Zn) fertilization on production of sunflower. The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with six treatments in three replicates. Treatments were: Zn-0 (non-Zn fertilized), Zn-10, Zn-20, Zn-30, and Zn-60 (soil application of 10, 20, 30, and 60 kg Zn ha(-1), respectively), and Zn-Spray (foliar spraying of 0.5 kg Zn ha(-1) using ZnSO4). Seeds of sunflower (Helianthus annuus cv. 'Record') were planted on June 20, 2000 and June 15, 2001. At harvest, shoot and seed yields as well as concentration of Zn, iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), sodium (Na), and chloride (Cl) in leaves of sunflower were determined. Addition of 20 kg Zn ha(-1) significantly increased seed production and shoot dry-matter yield of sunflower, while other Zn treatments had no significant effect on shoot dry-matter yield, or decreased it. The thousand-seed weight was the yield component most affected by Zn fertilization, while plant height and head diameter did not change. The maximum content of seed oil was achieved under the Zn-10 treatment, then decreased at higher rates of soil-applied Zn such that oil content of seed under the Zn-30 and Zn-60, treatments was significantly lower than that of the control. Seed oil content was unaffected by foliar spraying of Zn. The concentration of Zn in sunflower leaves was increased with an increase in soil-added Zn of from 0 to 60 kg Zn ha(-1). The highest leaf concentrations of Zn (162 and 175 mg kg(-1) day matter (DM) in the first and second year, respectively) were achieved by foliar application of ZnSO4. Leaf concentration of Fe was significantly increased in the Zn-20 treatment compared with the control but decreased at the higher rates of soil-added ZnSO4. Soil addition of different levels of ZnSO4 decreased concentration of Na and Cl in leaves. The lowest concentration of Na and Cl in leaves was observed under Zn-20. The results of this study suggest that soil application of a suitable amount of Zn has a positive effect on both quantitative and qualitative yield of sunflower in saline, calcareous soils.