Germination and Seedling Characters as Influenced by Sunflower Hybrids, Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates and Hill Spacing

In order to study the performance of some sunflower genotypes to nitrogen fertilizer rates and plant population density to germination and seedling parameters. A laboratory experiment conducted in the Agronomy Department seed lab, Faculty of Agriculture, Mansoura University, Egypt during March and April 2017.The goals of this study aimed to study the effect of sunflower hybrids, nitrogen fertilizer rates and hill spacing on germination and seedling characters.The results indicated that Nsovak genotype recorded the highest values of abnormal seedling percentage. Highest mean germination time was obtained from MS.sirena F1 genotype. The highest coefficient of velocityand value of the vigour was produced from Biest Brima genotype without significant differences with sown Nsovak genotype.The results indicated that increasing nitrogen fertilizer rates from 72, 120 and 168 kg N/ha significantly increased mean germination timeandvalue of the vigour. The highest coefficient of velocity percentage produced from addition nitrogen fertilizer at 120 Kg/ha.The results designated that increasing hill spacing from 15, 20 and 25 cm reduced germination percentage and mean germination time, however, significantly increased coefficient of velocity anddead seed percentages and value of the vigour.It could be concluded that sown Nsovak genotype at hill spacing of 15 cm and fertilizing with 120 kg N/ha enhanced seed germination and viability.