A sunflower field experiment was carried out during the growing seasons of 1991/92; 92/93 and 93/94, on an Typic Eutrorthox. The applied levels of nitrogen (N) were 0, 30, 60 and 90 kg ha-1 and the application methods were: 1. incorporated/moldboard plow (broadcasted with incorporation with moldboard plow down to 30 cm depth before sowing); 2. incorporated/disk bars (broadcasted with incorporation with disk bars before seedbed preparation); 3. incorporated/grade/split (30% of N broadcasted with incorporation with disk bars before seedbed preparation and the remaining N 30 days after the sunflower emergency). The effect of different levels and methods of N supply were evaluated through grain yield, weight of 1,000 achenes, plant height, and stem diameter. Phosphorus and potassium were applied together with N fertilization. The experimental design was a randomized blocks with split-plots and four replicates, with N rates in the main plots and methods in the split-plots. A density of 42,857 plants ha-1 occupied a total area of 3,528 m2. Grain yield increased with N levels up to 90 kg ha-1, while the economic level was obtained with 17.5 kg ha-1 of N. The highest grain yield and 1,000 achenes weight were achieved during the 1993/94 season, while the highest plant height and stem diameter were obtained in 1991/92. Different methods of N application did not affect grain yield. On the other hand, the greatest 1.000 achenes weight was obtained with the incorporated/grade/split method of N incorporation. However, for the other variables N incorporation with moldboard plow gave greater values.
Helianthus annuus; sunflower; nitrogen
