Aqueous Seaweed Sprays for Enhancement of Growth and Yield of Sunflower Hybrid CO2

Field experiments were carried out to identify the effect of seed treatment and foliar spraying of seaweed extracts viz., Sargasum myricosysutum, Gracilaria edulis and Caulerpa racemosa along with water and control. Seeds soaked for 10h 5 % seaweed extract followed by foliar spray 5 % at vegetative and flowering stage. The results of the study revealed that in all the seaweeds, seed treatment (5%) followed by foliar spray (5%) at vegetative stage and flowering stage enhanced the growth attributes viz., plant height, dry matter production, leaf area index, crop growth rate, No of seeds / capitulum, seed yield/ plant and 100 seed weight resulting in higher yield. Among three seaweed extracts Sargasum myricosysutum was found to be very effective for the growth and yield parameters in sunflower.