Effect of Methanol Spraying on Yield and Yield Components of Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L. Azargol hybrid) Under Different Moisture Conditions

Recent years researches have indicated that methanol as a carbon source for C3 crops, lead to increase their yield and growth. In order to evaluate effect of methanol spraying on yield and yield components of sunflower (Azargol) under different moisture conditions, a factorial split plot experiment was done within a randomized complete block design with four replications was done at research field of Islamic Azad University of Karaj in May 2010. The first factor was drought stress in three levels, based on depletion of 40% (normal irrigation) and 75% (drought stress) of available soil moisture. The second factor was application time of methanol in two levels (in the morning and in the evening). The third factor was different concentrations of methanol spraying equal to 0 (control), 14, 21 and 28 volumetric percentage (v/v), which control plot sprayed just with water only. First and second factor were arranged as factorial on main plots and the third factor was as split on sub plots. The result showed that seed yield, biological yield, thousand seed weight, number of seed per head and number of empty seed per head had significant different (P<0/01) as well as harvest index has significant different (P<0/05). Normal irrigation treatment with average of 3527/9 kg/ha compared with drought stress treatment showed 36% increase in seed yield. Also methanol 21% concentration treatment with average 3099/70 kg/ha lead to 12% increase in seed yield compared with control treatment. Highest level of seed yield obtained in normal irrigation, in combination with spraying with methanol 21% concentration in the evening with average of 4095/00 kg/ha that lead to 23% increase in seed yield when compared to control treatment. Also lowest level of seed yield was obtained in drought stress, in combination with in spraying with methanol 0% concentration in the morning with average of 1863/75 kg/ha.