Soil water content, absorption of nutrient elements, and responses to fertilization of sunflower: A case study

Abstract

Sunflower is considered to be a drought tolerant crop due to its root system. In Argentina, water availability and mineral nutrition are the main factors determining yield. We evaluated the behavior of a sunflower hybrid subjected to fertilization in a period of drought. A trial with the hybrid Paraiso 5 was carried out on a Typic Hapludoll located in western Buenos Aires province. The six treatments were: control; 150 kg or 300 kg available nitrogen (N) ha^‐1 (Native N supplemented with fertilizer); 150 kg or 300 kg available N ha^‐1 (Native N supplemented with fertilizer) plus other macro‐ and micronutrients, and macro‐ and micronutrients without N. Leaf area, plant biomass, root biomass, and yield components were determined. Plant tops and grain were analyzed for N, phosphorus (P), sulfur (S), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), boron (B), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn). Soil water content to a 1.2 m depth was measured periodically. At sowing, soil moisture was adequate, but during the first two months, the soil water content dropped to near the wilting point. Roots were largely located in the first 10 cm and dropped abruptly at deeper depths. The highest grain yield resulted from the highest N rates, but there were no effects from other nutrient elements. The oil content was not affected by these treatments. The chemical composition of the straw showed significant differences in N, P, S, and Mn concentration. In grain, only N increased as a response to N fertilization. This hybrid absorbed most nutrient elements during the first half of the life cycle and this corresponded to a time of drought conditions. Apparently roots are able to absorb water from the deep soil depths and still absorb nutrient elements from top soil. These traits might be crop strategies to respond to fertilization under drought.