Document Type

Thesis - Open Access

Award Date

2024

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department / School

Agronomy, Horticulture, and Plant Science

First Advisor

Thandiwe Nleya

Abstract

South Dakota accounts for about 36% of the total US commercial sunflower production and nitrogen is a major input. Costs related to N fertilizer demand economically optimum N rates. This study investigated the impact of the N fertilizer placement method (broadcast vs band) and rate (0, 28, 56, 84, 112, 140 kg N ha-1) on leaf chlorophyll content, head diameter, seed yield, seed oil, and protein concentration of three sunflower hybrids in 2022 and 2023. The experiment was conducted at Brookings (eastern SD- conventional till, 66 cm rainfall) using an oil-type hybrid and at central SD sites (no-till, 57 cm rainfall) using a confectionary hybrid at Miller (2022) and an oil-type hybrid at Highmore (2023). The fertilizer treatments were applied three weeks after planting using urea (46-0-0) for the broadcast treatment and liquid UAN (28-0-0) applied with a Y-drop for the band treatment. In-season drone imagery was used to evaluate treatment impacts on canopy development and vegetative greenness. Leaf chlorophyll content, plant height, stem diameter, and NDVI increased with increasing N rate (P

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Sunflowers -- South Dakota.
Nitrogen fertilizers.
Sunflowers -- Seeds -- Yields.
Sunflowers -- Fertilizers.
Sunflower seed oil.
Plant proteins.

Publisher

South Dakota State University

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Rights Statement

In Copyright