Evaluation of sunflower productivity, root-rot and damping off control by using some agricultural practices

Abstract EN

Two field experiments were carried out at 6 October farm, El- Nubaria Province, El-Behaira Governorate, Egypt during the two successive summer seasons (2010 and 2011) to investigate the effect of some agricultural practices; i.e.

irrigation treatments and different soil amendments on growth, productivity, suppression of root-rot and damping-off of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) var.

Giza-102.

Prior to the field experiments a pathogenicity test was carried out and identified that the causal pathogen of sunflower root-rot and damping-off diseases were Macrophomina phasolina, Sclerotium rolfisii, and Rhizoctonia solani.

Missing the third irrigation was more appreciated than missing the fifth irrigation treatment compared to the normal irrigation as the control treatment, which represents the highest observations regarding sunflower growth and productivity.

Soil amendment treatments increased the sunflower resistance to soil borne diseases hence enhanced its growth and productivity.

The most promising results obtained from rice straw + EM1 + urea, Biochar + compost, Rice straw + EM1 and EM-Bokash with no significant differences, compost, and animal manure, respectively, compared to the control treatment (without soil amendment).

The interaction (normal irrigation, missing the 3rd irrigation then missing the 5th irrigation, respectively) × (rice straw + EM1 + urea), was the best between all the other interaction treatments, under normal, moderate and severe drought conditions, respectively, and compared to normal irrigation × without treatment, as the control treatment.