PERFORMANCE OF SUNFLOWER CULTIVATED IN SANDY SOILS AT A WIDE RANGE OF PLANTING DATES IN EGYPT

Abstract

In Egypt, newly reclaimed soils offer a great opportunity to increase the area devoted to oil-seed crops. The objectives of this research were to determine the optimum planting date(s) that achieve the highest seed and oil yields per unit land area and to determine the suitable cultivar for sandy soils of Wadi El-Natroon region, Egypt. As well as, study the changes in fatty acid profile entire year. The field experiments were conducted in the Desert Exp. Sta. Fac. Agric., Cairo Univ., Wadi El-Natroon, El-Beheira Governorate, Egypt under drip irrigation system in 2013 and 2014 years. Sakha-53 and Giza 102 sunflower cultivars were monthly planted, from January up to December. Results refers that there is a possibility of planting sunflower from February up to August in new reclaimed sandy soil under Egyptian conditions. The results revealed that seed yield fed-1 significantly varied among planting dates. The highest seed and oil yields fed-1 were obtained from 1st March planting (1038.3 and 400.1 kg fed-1) followed by April planting (911.7 and 352.1 kg fed-1). Sakha-53 surpassed Giza-102 in all studied traits. Concerning fatty acids composition results indicated that increasing growing temperatures resulted in more oleic acid and total unsaturated fatty acids. As well as, less linoleic acid and total saturated fatty acids. Seed yield fed-1 is very closely and significantly related to seed yield plant-1 (r=0.87), number of leaves plant-1 (r=0.83) and less extent to head diameter (r=0.75).