IMPROVING SUNFLOWER PRODUCTIVITY AND FLORAL QUALITY AS A CUT FLOWER THROUGH MAGNESIUM NUTRITION MANAGEMENT

The experiment was carried out at the Horticulture Farm, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, Bangladesh from October 2025 to January 2026 to study the effect of Magnesium Sulfate (MgSO₄) on the growth, yield, and flower quality of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) as a cut flower. The single factor experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Three levels of magnesium sulphate concentration, T₀ = Control (only water, no MgSO4), T₁ = Low dose of MgSO₄, (1.0 g/plant), T₂ = Moderate dose of MgSO₄, (2.0 g/ plant) and T₃=High dose of MgSO₄, (3.0 g/plant) were used in this experiment. Data on various growth parameters indicated that the application of magnesium sulfate (MgSO₄) significantly enhanced growth, yield, and quality attributes of ornamental sunflower. Among the treatments, T₃ (3.0 g MgSO₄ per plant) exhibited the most pronounced effect, producing the highest values for leaf area (115.48 cm²), fresh weight with leaves (226.3 g), number of flowers and buds (11.0), stem diameter (17.2 mm), head diameter (15.37 cm), single petal area (9.6 cm²), and number of leaves (22.0). In contrast, the control treatment T₀ (no MgSO₄, only water) recorded the lowest performance, with leaf area (89.03 cm²), fresh weight with leaves (150.0 g), number of flowers and buds (8.0), stem diameter (13.3 mm), head diameter (10.77 cm), single petal area (7.8 cm²), and increased vase life (8.5 days). Therefore, the application of magnesium sulfate can be considered an effective agronomic practice for improving growth, yield, flower quality, and market value of sunflower as a cut flower.