Effect of Planting Date and Weed Control Methods on Yield and Agronomic Traits of Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) in Khoy Region

Effects of planting dates and weed control methods on yield and agronomic traits of sunflower was investigated. A factorial experiment based on a complete randomized blocks design with four replications was conducted in 2009. Treatments consisted of three planting date (April 4th, May5th and Juns5th) and five weed control methods, Trifluralin (2 Lit/ha) + Fokus (1.5 Lit/ha), Trifluralin+Nabu-s (3Lit/ha), Trifluralin, Hand weeding and without control. Results indicated that planting dates and weed control methods significantly affected head diameter, 100 grain weight, seed number per head and grain yield. Harvest index and oil percent was affected only by planting dates. The highest grain yield (630.1 g/m2), was produced in the second planting date (May 5) by using Trifluralin+Fokus. Delaying sowing date (after May 5) significantly decreased grain yield. The most important weeds in the experimental site were common lambsquarter (Chenopodium album), field bind weed (Convolvulus arvensis), bastard cabbage (Rapistrum rugosum), flower-of-an-hour (Hibiscus trionum), cockspur grass (Echinochloa colorum) and green bristle grass (Setaria verticillata). It was observed that the dry matter weight sharply varied in all weed species in different planting dates, that is, in the 4th April the dry matter production of common lambsquarter and bastard cabbage, in June 5th planting date were maximum. Dry matter of broad leaf and narrow leaf weeds in the date of May 5th was lower than the other two planting dates. The interaction of planting date ×control methods on head diameter, seed number per head, grain yield and weeds dry matter was significant

Effect of Micronutrients on Growth and Yield of Pinto Bean under Irrigation– cutback Treatments

To study the effect of micronutrients and irrigation cutback at different development stages on vegetative characteristics and yield of pinto bean (Talash cultivar), an experiment was carried out at Agricultural Research Station of Khoy in 2009. This experiment was performed as strip split plots based on randomized complete blocks design with 3 replications. Treatments included irrigation as the main factor at 3 levels (conventional irrigation (control), irrigation cutback at podding stage, irrigation cutback at seed-filling stage), and application of micronutrients (boron, zinc and manganese) as sub factor at 4 levels (soil treatment, one foliar application, two foliar applications, and control (no micronutrients application)). According to the results, irrigation levels had significant effects on height of the first branch above the ground, stem diameter, seed yield, biological yield and protein content of the seeds. By irrigation cutback at podding and seed-filling stages, the seed yield decreased from 2647 kg/ha to 1269 and 1920 kg/ha, respectively. Micronutrients treatments had also significant effects on number of branches per plant, height of the first branch above the ground, stem diameter, seed yield, biological yield and protein percent. The highest seed yield (2379 kg/ha) was in two foliar applications, which was 893 kg/ha more than control (no micronutrients application). The highest protien content (26.8%) belonged to irrigation at control level and two foliar applications of micronutrients. The general result of this research shows that due to high sensitivity of pinto bean to water deficiency, irrigation at conventional level with two foliar applications of micronutrients is recommendable to improve its growth