Research on suitable regulated deficit irrigation mode for edible sunflower in the Shule River Basin
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DOI:10.7606/j.issn.1000-7601.2025.06.15
Key Words: edible sunflower  regulated deficit irrigation  integrated water\|fertilizer management  comprehensive evaluation  Shule River Basin
Author NameAffiliation
ZHENG Jian School of Civil and Hydraulic Engineering, Lanzhou University of Technology, Lanzhou, Gansu 730050, China
Key Laboratory of Multi\|supply System with Solar Energy and Biomass, Gansu Province, Lanzhou, Gansu 730050, China 
GAO Kui School of Civil and Hydraulic Engineering, Lanzhou University of Technology, Lanzhou, Gansu 730050, China
Key Laboratory of Multi\|supply System with Solar Energy and Biomass, Gansu Province, Lanzhou, Gansu 730050, China 
GUO Yajun Shule River Basin Water Resources Utilization Center of Gansu Province, Yumen, Gansu 735211, China 
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Abstract:
      To investigate the suitability of regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) technology for characteristic economic crops in the Shule River Basin, an integrated water\|fertilizer RDI experiment was conducted using edible sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) as the subject of study. Three irrigation levels were established during both seedling and maturity stages: full irrigation (80%~85% θf), mild water deficit (70%~75% θf), and moderate water deficit (55%~60% θf), where θf denotes field capacity. The effects of different treatments on the growth, yield, and quality of edible sunflowers were systematically analyzed. A comprehensive evaluation was conducted using a combined approach of principal component analysis and membership function methods. The results showed that dry matter accumulation in edible sunflowers followed a characteristic “S-shaped” growth curve across all treatments. The reduction in aerial dry matter accumulation became more pronounced with increasing water deficit intensity, whereas moderate water deficit significantly enhanced root dry matter accumulation. Leaf area index was consistently reduced by water deficit at all growth stages. Compared to full irrigation (CK) and moderate water deficit during the seedling stage, mild water deficit at the seedling stage improved yield, irrigation water use efficiency, and quality parameters. Mild water deficit at the maturity stage resulted in a 2.6% yield reduction compared to CK but increased irrigation water use efficiency and crude protein content by 0.5% and 6.6%, respectively. The treatment combining mild water deficit at both seedling and maturity stages outperformed moderate water deficit at the maturity stage in terms of yield, irrigation water use efficiency, and crude protein content. Comprehensive evaluation indicated that implementing mild water deficit during both seedling and maturity stages is recommended as the optimal regulated deficit irrigation strategy for edible sunflower cultivation in the Shule River Basin.