Nitrogen Choices Matter: Boosting Sunflower Oil Content in Morogoro | InformativeBD

Josiah M. Kinama,  Irika M, and Habineza M. Jean Pierre, from the  different institute of Kenya and Tanzania. wrote a Research article about, Nitrogen Choices Matter: Boosting Sunflower Oil Content in Morogoro. Entitled, Influence of inorganic and organic nitrogen fertilizers regimes on oil content of sunflower in Morogoro, Tanzania. This research paper published by the International Journal of Agronomy and Agricultural Research | IJAAR. an open access scholarly research journal on Agronomy. under the affiliation of the International Network For Natural Sciences| INNSpub. an open access multidisciplinary research journal publisher.

Abstract

This study was conducted at the Sokoine University of Agriculture to assess the influence of farmyard manure (FYM) and inorganic nitrogen fertilizers on sunflower seed oil content. The treatments consisted were: control (no nitrogen fertilizer, no farmyard manure); 2 t farmyard manure (FYM)/ha applied at planting (AAP); 5 t FYM/ha (AAP); 10 t FYM/ha (AAP); 20kg N/ha applied as UREA at 30 days after planting (DAP); 40kg N/ha applied as UREA at 30 (DAP); 60kg N/ha applied as UREA at 30 (DAP); 2 t FYM/ha at planting + 20kg N/ha applied as UREA at 30 (DAP); 5 t FYM/ha at planting + 40kg N/ha applied as UREA at 30 (DAP); and 10 t FYM/ha (AAP); + 60kg N/ha applied as UREA at 30 (DAP). A randomized complete block design was used and treatments replicated three times. Sunflower variety Record was used as a test variety. Data collected included: soil sample before planting, plant tissue analysis, seed oil content and total seed oil yield per hectare. All data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and means were separated using (LSD) P ≤ 0.05. The results showed that unlike the other parameters, oil content was only increased by 10 t FYM/ha in both seasons. It was therefore recommended that farmers in Morogoro to consider application 10 t FYM/ha in order to have high seed sunflower oil content.

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Introduction

Sunflower is one of the oilseed cash crops which have been promoted by the government and private sectors as a potential crop for improving farmers’ livelihoods and ensuring availability of healthy edible oil in the country (RLDC, 2010). However, the crop is still facing low production and productivity challenges which might partly be attributed to poor soil fertility, low use of improved seeds and poor agronomic practices (RLDC, 2010). Turuka et al., 2001 reported that, of all farm management and farm input applications inorganic fertilizers alone increases yields by 35 to 40% followed by improved seeds. Application of nitrogen fertilizers and farm yard manure has a great impact on sunflower growth, biological yield components as well as oil content (Helmy and Ramdan, 2009). The crop is suited to wide range of agro ecological zones with wide range of temperatures, soil types and rainfall patterns. It ranks the third most important source of edible oil in the world after soya bean (Glycine max L.) and cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) (Berglund et al., 2007). The crop gained popularity about less than 15 years ago after increased peoples’ awareness of its healthier oil free of cholesterol and rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids than other vegetable oils (Ugulumu, 2007). It contributes about 40% of total national cooking oil requirement, ranking as one of the most important cooking oils with very high value (ARI- Ilonga, 2008). One of the limiting factors in sunflower production among majority of Tanzanian farmers is poor soil fertility and productivity. For instance Berglund (2012) reported that low sunflower yields can be caused by incorrect plant population, poor soil fertility, lack of weed control, diseases, insect damage, bird depredation, lodging, late planting and harvesting losses. Oyinlola et al., (2010) also noted that nitrogen deficiency is generally the most limiting nutritional disorder which affects sunflower production. Similarly Warrick, (2001) reported that in order for farmers to obtain high and consistent sunflower yields, an adequate fertilizer programme should be part of production planning . Helmy and Ramdan, (2009) also noted that use of animal wastes and nitrogen fertilizer contribute significantly in increasing sunflower seed yields and oil content. This signifies that, soil fertility management is essential for consistent achievement of high sunflower seed yields and high oil content. The conventional method of sunflower production in many parts of Tanzania and Africa is cultivation without considering the soil fertility management practices. In addition, farmers rely mostly on extensive cultivation to increase crop yields, the practice which leads to deforestation and soil fertility depletion. Production of sunflower oil seed in Tanzania has been increasing from 75,000 tons to 100,000 tons from 2002 to 2005, the production then increased dramatically to 350,000 tons in 2007. The main reason for this increase is due to opening up of new land under sunflower production and a bit of use of improved seeds (MAFC, 2009). This accounts for extensive cultivation rather than intensively agricultural production where farmers open up a virgin land, cultivate for three to four consecutive years and abandon the farms after depleting the soils. Further, it is estimated that 350,000 tons of oil seed produced 90,000tons of sunflower oil per year. FAO recommends annual per capita oil consumption of 5kg of vegetable oil. In 2002 census, the population was 35,000,000 in Tanzania and the equivalent oil demand was 175,000,000kg. With current Tanzania population of 44,000,000 people, the amount of oil needed is 220,000,000kg per year. Thus, the demand for vegetable oil is high and the production has not met this demand. Despite continuous increase in area under production, there is still low production per unit area, and the deficit has been compensated by oil importation from Malaysia and Indonesia. To date Tanzania is a net importer of oil. Although there is good production of other oil seeds like groundnuts and sesame, sunflower oil is mostly preferred because of its high quality and healthy oil (free of cholesterol) and has high oil content of about 40%. This makes sunflower the most important cooking oil produced in Tanzania especially in the central corridor of the country. This shows a great need to deliberately increase sunflower production through soil fertilization. That why this study was conducted to assess the influence of inorganic and organic nitrogen fertilizers on oil content of sunflower in order to know which fertilizer could help Tanzanian people to increase the quantity of sunflower oil.

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Article source : Influence of inorganic and organic nitrogen fertilizers regimes on oil content of sunflower inMorogoro, Tanzania