Determination of Spatial Variability in Sunflower Production

Abstract

Determination of Spatial Variability in Sunflower Production

 

Fatih BAKANOĞULLARI^1*,        Ulaş AY¹,                  Bahattin AKDEMIR²

¹ Atatürk Soil, Water and Agricultural Meteorology Research Institute, Republic of Turkey Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock, 39100 Kirklareli, Turkey

² Namık Kemal University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Biosystems Engineering 59030 Tekirdag-Turkey

 

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Abstract:  Aim of this research is to determine spatial variability of soils, nutrients in soil and yield for sunflower production to assess variable rate fertilisation. Materials were sunflower field, and GNSS. Seed variety was Limagrain 5542. Total size of the research field was 35.8 ha. Soil samples were taken from 0-30 cm and 30-60 cm depths.  Soil texture, saturation point (%), pH at saturated soil, Lime (%), total salinity (%), CaCO3, organic matter, useful P (P2O5), useful K (K2O), field capacity (%) and wilting point (%) were determined. Soil texture was found mostly clay but clay loam and a sandy clay loam texture was also determined. Mean values and standard deviations for saturation point 57.35% and 7.44%, pH 7.30 and 0.66, salt 0.07 and 0.01, lime 7.63 and 0.68, organic material 1.29% and 0.17%, P2O5 18.22 and 2.52, K2O 146.05% and 30.82, field capacity 30.34% and 4.07%, and for wilting point 19.18% and 2.72. Mean yield was 2100 kg/ha. Required fertilisers will be 285 kg/ha Ammonium Sulphate (21%N) and 115 kg/ha Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (26%N) for constant rate fertiliser application as conventional application. If this fertiliser is applied as variable rate; amount of fertilisers will be 115 kg/ha Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (26%N) for whole field and 285 kg/ha Ammonium Sulphate (21%N) should be applied for 250 ha. field size. Urea (46%N) suggested as 130 kg/ha for 100 ha. According to the results, fertiliser requirement of the sunflower field is not constant. Fertilisation necessity is spatially determined. Fertiliser application with spatial variable rate will increase yield, quality and decrease fertilisation cost and environmental effects.    Key words:  Sunflower, Precision agriculture, Spatial variability, Variable rate fertilisation

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[*] Corresponding author: [e-mail]

Keywords

• Sunflower,Precision agriculture,Spatial variability

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