Plant Soil Environ., 2025, 71(1):48-57 | DOI: 10.17221/303/2024-PSE

Optimising sunflower yields: insights from meta-analysis on fertilisation impact and planting strategies for enhanced crop productivity in ChinaOriginal Paper

Shun Li1, Zongqing Liu2
1 Academy of Animal Science and Veterinary, Qinghai University, Xining, P.R. China
2 College of Ecological and Environmental Engineering, Qinghai University, Xining, P.R. China

Sunflower serves as a valuable rotational crop, suitable for snack processing or sunflower seed oil extraction, proving to be a lucrative cash crop. To address sunflower yield uncertainties, this study employs meta-analysis to examine the impact of fertilisation. Utilising 41 studies and 392 pairs of observations based on four criteria, we found an overall 27% increase in sunflower yield with fertiliser application. Nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) individually applied raised yield by 23.37, 20.92, and 11.63%, respectively. Combined fertilisers (NP, NK, NP, and NPK) enhanced yield by 29.69, 28.40, 17.35, and 41.91%, respectively. Sunflower type minimally affects yield, while planting density significantly influences it. Combining local soil conditions and environmental factors with appropriate planting densities ensures maximum sunflower yield, fostering economic benefits for farmers. This study holds constructive implications for sunflower cultivation in China, contributing to increased yield.

Keywords: Helianthus annuus L.; production; soil fertility; heterogeneity

Received: June 5, 2024; Revised: November 26, 2024; Accepted: November 27, 2024; Prepublished online: January 7, 2025; Published: January 8, 2025  Show citation

ACS AIP APA ASA Harvard Chicago Chicago Notes IEEE ISO690 MLA NLM Turabian Vancouver
Li S, Liu Z. Optimising sunflower yields: insights from meta-analysis on fertilisation impact and planting strategies for enhanced crop productivity in China. Plant Soil Environ. 2025;71(1):48-57. doi: 10.17221/303/2024-PSE.
Share...
Download citation
  • BibTeX (.bib)
  • Bookends (.ris)
  • EasyBib (.ris)
  • EndNote (.enw)
  • EndNote 8 (.xml)
  • ISI WoS (.isi)
  • Medlars (.medlars)
  • Mendeley (.ris)
  • MODS (.xml)
  • Papers (.ris)
  • RefWorks (.txt)
  • RefManager (.ris)
  • RIS (.ris)
  • MS Word (.xml)
  • Zotero (.ris)
    • Open full article

    References

    1. Ahmed M.A.A.S. (2012): Effect of plant densities on growth, yield components and quality of some sunflower cultivars (Helianthus annuus L.). College of Basic Education Research Journal, 12: 765-776.
    2. Ailwar B.P., Ghodke M.K., Tathe R.G. (2020): Heterosis for yield and yield contributing traits in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.). Electronic Journal of Plant Breeding, 11: 950-953. Go to original source...
    3. Baraiya V.K., Jagtap P.K., Sangani J.L., Malviya A.V. (2018): Correlation and path analysis in sunflower (Helianthus annus L.). Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, 7: 2730-2732.
    4. Barros J.F., de Carvalho M., Basch G. (2004): Response of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) to sowing date and plant density under Mediterranean conditions. European Journal of Agronomy, 21: 347-356. Go to original source...
    5. Burda B.U., O'Connor E.A., Webber E.M., Redmond N., Perdue L.A. (2017): Estimating data from figures with a Web-based program: considerations for a systematic review. Research Synthesis Methods, 8: 258-262. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    6. Carvalheiro L.G., Veldtman R., Shenkute A.G., Tesfay G.B., Pirk C.W.W., Donaldson J.S., Nicolson S.W. (2011): Natural and within-farmland biodiversity enhances crop productivity. Ecology Letters, 14: 251-259. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    7. Cohen J. (1992): Things I have learned (so far). Paper presented at the Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association. 98th, Aug 1990, Boston, Presented at the aforementioned conference.
    8. Delmas C.E., Fort T.L., Escaravage N., Pornon A. (2016): Pollen transfer in fragmented plant populations: insight from the pollen loads of pollinators and stigmas in a mass-flowering species. Ecology and Evolution, 6: 5663-5673. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    9. Duan Y.J., Tan L., Zhang J.S., Cao G.L., Shi W.H., Shi J.Y., A.L. (2012): Effects of different nitrogen fertilizer levels on dry matter and N accumulation of cotton under jujube and cotton intercropping. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Fertilizers, 18: 1443-1450.
    10. Egger M., Smith G.D., Schneider M., Minder C. (1997): Bias in meta-analysis detected by a simple, graphical test. British Medical Journal, 315: 629-634. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    11. Feng J.H. (2022): Breeding history and research advancements of confection sunflower in China. Acta Botanica Boreali-Occidentalia Sinica, 42: 1779-1800.
    12. Francois L.E. (1996): Salinity effects on four sunflower hybrids. Agronomy Journal, 88: 215-219. Go to original source...
    13. Ge W.J., Chang Y.L., Liu J.M., Zhang S.L., Sun B.H., Yang X.Y. (2012): Potassium balance and pool as influenced by long-term fertilization under continuous winter wheat-summer maize cropping system in a manural loess soil. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Fertilizers, 18: 629-636.
    14. Glass G.V. (1976): Primary, secondary, and meta-analysis of research. Educational Researcher, 5: 3-8. Go to original source...
    15. Guo S.C., Li S.P., Sun R.F. (2021): Analysis of the overall situation of sunflower industry development in the world and China. China Seed Industry, 7: 10-13.
    16. Guo S.J., Duan Y., Zhang J., An H., Zhang R.S. (2019): The effect of nitrogen fertilization on sunflower yield and quality. Soil and Fertilizer Sciences in China, 2: 126-132.
    17. Hao X.P., Wang Y. (2015): Fertilizer efficiency experiment of nitrogen phosphorus and potassium on red kidney bean. Chinese Agricultural Science Bulletin, 31: 108-113.
    18. Hedges L.V., Gurevitch J., Curtis P.S. (1999): The meta-analysis of response ratios in experimental ecology. Ecology, 80: 1150-1156. Go to original source...
    19. Hu S.P. (2011): Yield formation and related agronomic control mechanism in sunflower. Doctor, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University.
    20. Hu X.L., Feng H.C., Zhao Y.G., Zhang F.H., Li Y.Y. (2013): Effect of increased phosphate fertilizer on sunflower growth and photosynthesis characteristic in saline land in Hetao irrigation district. Soil and Fertilizer Sciences in China, 6: 52-56.
    21. Hunter J.E. (2004): Methods of Meta-Analysis: Correcting Error and Bias in Research Findings. Los Angeles, SAGE Publications, Ltd.
    22. Ibrahim H.M. (2012): Response of some sunflower hybrids to different levels of plant density. Apcbee Procedia, 4: 175-182. Go to original source...
    23. Jákli B., Tavakol E., Tränkner M., Senbayram M., Dittert K. (2017): Quantitative limitations to photosynthesis in K deficient sunflower and their implications on water-use efficiency. Journal of Plant Physiology, 209: 20-30. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    24. Kaleem S., Hassan F.U., Farooq M., Rasheed M., Munir A. (2010): Physio-morphic traits as influenced by seasonal variation in sunflower: a review. International Journal of Agriculture and Biology, 12: 468-473.
    25. Lakshman S.S., Chakrabarty N.R., Kole P.C. (2020): Economic heterosis in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.): seed yield and yield attributing traits in newly developed hybrids. Electronic Journal of Plant Breeding, 11: 461-468. Go to original source...
    26. Lal R. (2020): Soil organic matter content and crop yield. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 75: 27-32. Go to original source...
    27. Li J., Yan W.Z., Zhang J., Zhang H.X. (2010): Effect of planting density on confectionery sunflower seed characters, yield and other economic characters. Heilongjiang Agricultural Sciences, 9: 26-27.
    28. Li S., Liu Z.Q. (2024): Fertilisation and environmental factors affect the yield and quality of alfalfa in China. Plant, Soil and Environment, 70: 276-286. Go to original source...
    29. Li S.T., Duan Y., Guo T.W., Zhang P.L., He P., Majumdar K. (2018): Sunflower response to potassium fertilization and nutrient requirement estimation. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 17: 2802-2812. Go to original source...
    30. Liu W.J., Zheng L., Duan W. (2023): Effects of sowing date density coupling on growth, yield and composition of sunflower. Journal of Northeast Agricultural Sciences, 48: 46-50.
    31. Luo Y., Hui D., Zhang D. (2006): Elevated CO2 stimulates net accumulations of carbon and nitrogen in land ecosystems: a meta-analysis. Ecology, 87: 53-63. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    32. Macolino S., Lauriault L.M., Rimi F., Ziliotto U. (2013): Phosphorus and potassium fertilizer effects on alfalfa and soil in a non-limited soil. Agronomy Journal, 105: 1613-1618. Go to original source...
    33. Mahmood H.N., Towfiq S.I., Rashid K.A. (2019): The sensitivity of different growth stages of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) under deficit irrigation. Applied Ecology and Environmental Research, 17: 7605-7623. Go to original source...
    34. Marinković R. (1992): Path-coefficient analysis of some yield components of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), I. Euphytica, 60: 201-205. Go to original source...
    35. Massignam A.M., Chapman S.C., Hammer G.L., Fukai S. (2009): Physiological determinants of maize and sunflower grain yield as affected by nitrogen supply. Field Crops Research, 113: 256-267. Go to original source...
    36. Meng F., Luo J.X., Cai Y., Yu Y., Yang L., Zhou W.C. (2022): Effects of soil available phosphorus on tobacco growth and dry matter accumulation and distribution. Crops, 38: 203-210.
    37. Modanlo H., Baghi M., Ghanbari M.A. (2021): Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) grain yield affected by fertilizer and plant density. Central Asian Journal of Plant Science Innovation, 1: 102-108.
    38. Mullen B., Hu L. (1989): Perceptions of ingroup and outgroup variability: a meta-analytic integration. Basic and Applied Social Psychology, 10: 233-252. Go to original source...
    39. Ortiz-Hernandez A.A., Araiza-Esquivel M., Delgadillo-Ruiz L., Ortega-Sigala J.J., Durán-Muñoz H.A., Mendez-Garcia V.H., Yacaman M.J., Vega-Carrillo H.R. (2020): Physical characterization of sunflower seeds dehydrated by using electromagnetic induction and low-pressure system. In-novative Food Science and Emerging Technologies, 60: 102285. Go to original source...
    40. Perrot T., Gaba S., Roncoroni M., Gautier J., Saintilan A., Bretagnolle V. (2019): Experimental quantification of insect pollination on sunflower yield, reconciling plant and field scale estimates. Basic and Applied Ecology, 34: 75-84. Go to original source...
    41. Phillips B.B., Shaw R.F., Holland M.J., Fry E.L., Bardgett R.D., Bullock J.M., Osborne J.L. (2018): Drought reduces floral resources for pollinators. Global Change Biology, 24: 3226-3235. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    42. Pisanty G., Klein A., Mandelik Y. (2014): Do wild bees complement honeybee pollination of confection sunflowers in Israel? Apidologie, 45: 235-247. Go to original source...
    43. Puškadija Z., Mijić A., Florijančić T., Ozimec S., Opačak A. (2009): Influence of biotic and abiotic environmental conditions on sunflower (Helian-thus annuus L.) grain yield. Cereal Research Communications, 37: 105-108.
    44. Qian Y., He J., He W. (2015): Effect of fertilization on yield and quality of oil sunflower in salted soil of Ningxia, China. Journal of Agricultural Resources and Environment, 32: 565-570.
    45. Rauf S., Jamil N., Tariq S.A., Khan M., Kausar M., Kaya Y. (2017): Progress in modification of sunflower oil to expand its industrial value. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 97: 1997-2006. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    46. Süzer S. (2010): Effects of nitrogen and plant density on dwarf sunflower hybrids. Helia, 33: 207-214. Go to original source...
    47. Tamburini G., Bommarco R., Kleijn D., van der Putten W.H., Marini L. (2019): Pollination contribution to crop yield is often context-dependent: a review of experimental evidence. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 280: 16-23. Go to original source...
    48. Tangyu M., Fritz M., Ye L., Aragão B.R., Morin-Rivron D., Campos-Giménez E., Bolten C.J., Bogicevic B., Wittmann C. (2022): Co-cultures of Propionibacterium freudenreichii and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens cooperatively upgrade sunflower seed milk to high levels of vitamin B12 and multiple co-benefits. Microbial Cell Factories, 21: 1-23. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    49. Tuo D., An H., Zhang J., Li Z.H. (2010): The current situation of sunflower fertilizer technology at home and aboard and its development tread. Inner Mongolia Agricultural Science and Technology, 6: 1-2.
    50. Viechtbauer W. (2010): Conducting meta-analyses in R with the metafor package. Journal of Statistical Software, 36: 1-48. Go to original source...
    51. Volkmar K.M., Hu Y., Steppuhn H. (1998): Physiological responses of plants to salinity: a review. Canadian Journal of Plant Science, 78: 19-27. Go to original source...
    52. Wang B.Z., Li Y., Li X.W., Wang S.W., Ren X.C., He Z.G. (2020): Selection of suitable cultivation density of different sunflower varieties in western Jilin province. Journal of Northeast Agricultural Sciences, 45: 39-44.
    53. Wang T., Wang Z., Wu Q., Zhang J., Quan L., Fan B., Guo L. (2021): Coupling effects of water and nitrogen on photosynthetic characteristics, nitrogen uptake, and yield of sunflower under drip irrigation in an oasis. International Journal of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, 14: 130-141. Go to original source...
    54. Wang W.N., Gao W., Zheng S., Gao F.S., Su W., Li R., Li N., Wang X.F. (2020): Differences in responses to nitrogen fertilizer of edible sunflower and oi sunflower in typical ecological zones of Inner Mongolia. Soil and Fertilizer Sciences in China, 4: 140-149.
    55. Wang W.Q., Lai D.Y.E., Wang C., Pan T., Zeng C. (2015): Effects of rice straw incorporation on active soil organic carbon pools in a subtropical paddy field. Soil and Tillage Research, 152: 8-16. Go to original source...
    56. Xiang L., You Y.Z., Feng J. (2023): Response of nutrient resorption of herbs, shrubs and trees to temperature and precipitation in China. Research of Soil and Water Conservation, 30: 87-92.
    57. Weis P., Windham L., Burke D.J., Weis J.S. (2002): Release into the environment of metals by two vascular salt marsh plants. Marine Environmental Research, 54: 325-329. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    58. Yuan Y., Wu F.Z., Zhou X.G. (2009): Interactive effects of light intensity and nitrogen supply on sugar accumulation and activities of enzymes related to sucrose metabolism in tomato fruits. Scientia Agricultura Sinica, 42: 1331-1338.
    59. Zeng L., Wang G., Wang G. (2010): Growth and development and photosynthetic characteristics of Helianthus annuus with different nutrients levels. Acta Botanica Boreali-Occidentalia Sinica, 30: 1180-1185.
    60. Zhang H., Hodson J.N., Williams J.P., Blumwald E. (2001): Engineering salt-tolerant Brassica plants: characterization of yield and seed oil quality in transgenic plants with increased vacuolar sodium accumulation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 98: 12832-12836. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    61. Zhang X.Y., Wang X.Z. (2004): Studies on techniques of nitrogen fertilizer application in sunflower on salinized soil. Journal of Jilin Agricultural Sciences, 6: 33-36.
    62. Zhou F., Matthew C., Yang P., Huang Y., Nie B., Nan Z. (2023): Leaf morphology, functional trait and altitude response in perennial vetch (Vicia unijuga A. Braun), alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.). Planta, 257: 75. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...
    63. Zörb C., Senbayram M., Peiter E. (2014): Potassium in agriculture-status and perspectives. Journal of Plant Physiology, 171: 656-669. Go to original source... Go to PubMed...

    This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY NC 4.0), which permits non-comercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original publication is properly cited. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.


    Return to the content