OILCROP-SUN MODEL APPLICATION FOR AGRONOMIC STRATEGIES OF SUNFLOWER CROP

The experiments were carried out to evaluate the performance of DSSAT (OILCROP-SUN) model to simulate growth and development of sunflower hybrids under irrigated conditions in semi arid environment of Sargodha and to determine the impact of varying planting densities and nitrogen levels on achene yield and economic return. The model was evaluated with experimental data collected in trial conducted during spring season in 2010 and 2011. Split split plot design was used in layout of experiment with three replications. The treatments comprised of two hybrids (Hysun- 33 and S-278), three planting densities (83,333, 66,666 and 55,555 plants ha-1), with three levels of nitrogen (100, 125 and 150 kg ha-1). The results showed that the model was able to simulate growth and yield of sunflower, with MPD (mean percentage difference) of 5.94% between observed and simulated achene yield. The management strategy consisted of 8.33 plants m-2 along with 150 kg N ha-1 was the best for high yield and monitory return of sunflower hybrids as simulated by model.