Effects of plant density on yield and agronomic traits of sunflower cv. Armavirsky under dryland condition in Maragheh

Agro-technical factors that have effect on grain yield and their optimum control would increase yield. This experiment was carried out in as factorial using RCBD with two factors including distance between rows (a1=40 and a2=60 cm) and distance between plants on row (b1=20cm, b2=25cm, b3=30cm and b4=35cm) with 3 replications for two years on sunflower cv. Armavirsky. Plant height, head diameter, stem diameter, days to flowering and maturity, number of seeds per head, TKW and grain yield were recorded. Results showed that effects of distance between plants on row was significant (α=٪1). Based on results, there is no significant differences in grain yield among treatments. The combination of 60 cm row distance and 35 cm plant distance on rows with 47619 plants per hectare is recommended for growing sunflower cv. Armavirsky under Maragheh dryland conditions. This recommendation will led to reduce seed rate and soil moisture losses through transpiration. It would also facilitate in the chamical control of weeds.