Sunflower, the name "Helianthus" is derived from ‘Helios’ meaning ‘sun’ and ‘anthos’ meaning ‘flower’. It called as sunflower as it follows the sun, always turning toward its direct rays. It is important oilseed crop of country. Sunflower oil is most popular because of its light color, bland flavor, high smoke point and high level of linoleic acid which is good for heart patient. Sunflower seed contains about 48– 53 percent edible oil.

In Maharashtra, near about 61 thousand hectare area is under sunflower cultivation. Osmanabad, Latur and Solapur are major sunflower growing areas of Maharashtra.
 

It can be grown on wide range of soil from sandy loam to black soils. It gives best result when grown under fertile, well-drained soil. It can tolerate slight alkaline soil. Avoid sowing in acidic also waterlogging soil. Ideal pH is around 6.5-8.

Improved varieties:

Morden: Ready to harvest in 80-85days. Gives average yield of 3.2-4qtl/acre with 34-38% oil content.

S.S 56: Early maturing variety. Ready to harvest in 80-85days. Gives average yield of 4 to 4.2qtl per acre. Suitable in drought prone areas.

E.C.68415: Ready to harvest in 100-110days. Variety having oil content 42-46%. Gives average yield of 3-4qtl/acre.

Bhanu: Ready to harvest in 85-90days. Suitable for growing in all season. Suitable for drought prone areas. Gives average yield of 4.8-5.2qtl/acre.

Hybrid varieties:

K.B.S.H 1:  Ready to harvest in 85-90days. Gives average yield of 4.8-6qtl/acre.

K.B.S.H 44: Gives average yield of 5-6.4qtl/acre.

Phule Raviraj: High yielding hybrid. Gives average yield of 6-8qtl/acre.

L.S.F.H 171: Gives average yield of 7-8qtl/acre.

JWALAMUKHI: Ready to harvest in 85-90days. Gives average yield of 12-14qtl/acre with 42-44% oil content.

Phule Bhaskar: Early maturing variety. Ready to harvest in 80-84days. Oil percentage is high. Gives average yield of 6-7.5qtl/acre.

L.S.F.H 35: Resistant to downey mildew. Gives average yield of 6.4-7.2qtl/acre.

L.S.F.H 8: Ready to harvest in 90days. Resistant to downey mildew. Gives average yield of 4.8 – 5.6qtl/acre. 

L.S.F.H 17: Ready to harvest in 90-95days. Resistant to downey mildew. Gives average yield of 7.2 – 8qtl/acre.

Other state varieties:

Variety: DRSF 108, PAC 1091, PAC-47, PAC-36, Sungene-85

KBSH 1, MSFH 8, PAC 36, KBSH 44, HSFH 848, PCSH 234

K.V.S.H 1: Hybrid, ready to harvest in 90-95days. Gives average yield of 7.2-8qtl/acre with 43-45% oil content.

S.H 3322: Hybrid, Ready to harvest in 90-95days. Gives average yield of 8.8 to 10qtl/acre with 40-42% oil content.

V.S.F 1: Hybrid, Ready to harvest in 90-95days. Gives average yield of 7.2-8qtl/acre with 35-40% oil content.

Hybrids: KBSH 44, APSH-11, MSFH-10, BSH-1, KBSH-1, TNAU-SUF-7, MSFH-8, MSFH-10, MLSFH-17, DRSH-1, Pro.Sun 09.

MSFH 17, PAC 1091, PROSEN 09, HSFH 848
 

To prepare fine seed bed, carry out two to three deep ploughing operations followed by planking. 

Fertilizer Requirement (kg/acre)

Nutrient Requirement (kg/acre)

Apply well decomposed cowdung@2-4ton/acre before seed sowing.

Overall, sunflower crop required, Nitrogen@20-24kg (Urea@45-55kg), Phosphorus@10-24kg (SSP@65-150kg) and Potash@10-24kg (MoP@20-40kg) per acre. For rainfed areas, apply all fertilizer at time of sowing. For irrigated areas, apply half of nitrogen and full dose of Potash, Phosphorus at time of sowing. Apply remaining dose of Nitrogen, one month after sowing.

Apply fertilizer, 5cm away from seed line.

For accurate dose of fertilizer do soil testing and apply doses on basis of it.

WSF: For better vegetative growth spray, water-soluble 19:19:19@5gm/Ltr of water when crop is at 5-6 leaves stage take two sprays at eight days interval. Spray Boron@2gm/Ltr of water at ray floret opening stage.
 

Time of sowing
For kharif season, complete sowing in first fortnight of July. For Rabi season, 15th of October to 15th of November is optimum time for seed sowing.
For summer season, complete sowing by January to first fortnight of February.
 
Spacing
Spacing vary with season, variety used and soil type. For medium soils, used spacing of 45cmx30cm and for heavy soils, spacing of 60cmx30cm is adopted.
 
Sowing Depth
Avoid deep sowing of seeds. Sow seeds at depth of 3-5cm.

Method of sowing
For sowing use dibbling method. Also, placing seeds on flat bed or ridge with help of row crop planter is used for sunflower sowing.
 

Seed Rate
For variety, use seed rate of 3-4kg/acre for sowing. For hybrid use seed rate of 2-2.4kg/acre.

Seed Treatment
Before sowing for quick germination, soak seeds in water for 24hour and shade dry. Then treat seeds with Thiram@2gm per kg of seeds. It will protect seeds from soil borne pest and disease. To protect crop from downey mildew, treat seeds with Metalaxyl@6gm per kg of seeds. Treat seeds with Imidacloprid@5-6gm per kg of seeds.   
 

In sunflower, tur (ratio 2:1), groundnut (2:6) can be taken as intercrop. 

Keep sunflower field weed free during first 45days of crop period and irrigate the crop at critical stages. Two to three weeks after sowing, complete first weeding operation followed by second weeding operation three weeks afterwards.

To control weeds chemically, spray with Pendimethalin@1Ltr in 150-200Ltr per acre or Alchlore@0.6kg in 300-320ltr as pre-emergence herbicide within 2-3days after sowing.

To control weed in standing crop, take spray of Quizalofop@20gm/acre in 300-320Ltr of water when crop is at 2-4 leaf stage.

To protect crop from lodging, when crop is 60-70cm tall but before flowering complete earthing up operation.
 

For good growth and yield, usually four to five irrigations are required. For heavy soils three to four irrigations are sufficient. Apply first irrigation 20-25days after sowing. Depending upon water requirement, when crop is at 50% flowering, soft and hard dough stage are critical for irrigation. Water stress during this stage leads to severe yield loss. Avoid excessive or two frequent irrigation as it increases chances of wilt and root rot attacked.

Honey bees play important role in increasing seed set, If honeybee activity is low, then supplemental hand pollination on alternate days preferably in morning hours, between 8-11am.for about 7-10days for this purpose cover hand with muslin cloth. 
 

• Pest and their control:
  

Tobacco caterpillar: These are serious pest of sunflower. There infestation is observed during April-May month. They feed on leaves.

Destroy young larva along with damage crops away from field. If infestation of tobacco caterpillar is seen, spray Fipronil SC@2ml/ Ltr of water. In severe case take two sprays at 10days interval or Spray Spinosad@5ml/10Ltr of water or Nuvaan+Indoxacarb@1ml/Ltr water.

Head borer or American bollworm: It is serious pest of sunflower. It damage plant as these are feed on tissue and developing grains in head. Fungus is developed and heads get rotted. Larva shows color variation from greenish to brown.

To determine pest intensity use pheromone traps@4traps/acre. If infestation is observed spray of Carbaryl@1 kg or Acephate@800 gm or Chlorpyriphos@1Ltr in 100 Ltrs of water per acre is required.

Bihar hairy caterpillar: Young larvae feed on leaves mostly under surface of leaves. Due to infestation, drying up of plant is observed. Larvae are of yellow color with black hairs.

Destroy young larva along with damage crops away from field. If infestation is seen, spray Fipronil SC @ 2ml/ Ltr of water. In severe case take two sprays at 10 days interval or Spray Spinosad@5ml/10Ltr of water.

Jassid: Incidence of sucking pests like jassids is observed in bud initiation stage. In jassid attacked cupped, crinkled leaves and burnt appearance are symptoms of damage.

If incidence of sucking pest is noticed in 10-20% of plants, Spray crop with neem seed kernel extract@50gm/Ltr of water.

• Disease and their control:
  

Rust: Rust disease may cause yield loss up to 20%. If infestation of Rust is observed, for effective control, take sprays of Tridemorph@1gm/Ltr or Mancozeb@2gm/Ltr. Take 2nd spray at 15days interval or Hexaconazole@2ml/Ltr of water in twice at 10 days interval.

 

Stem rot: Symptoms are notices within 40days of sowing. Plant become sick and can observe from distance. White cottony fungus is observed on nearby soil surface of affected plant. Before sowing do seed treatment with Thiram@2gm per kg of seeds.

Charcoal Rot: Affected plant get weaker and mature earlier also black ashy discoloration of the stem is observed. After pollination, sudden wilting of plant is observed.

Soil application of Tricoderma viride @1Kg per ha along with 20Kg of well decomposed cow dung or sand at 30 days after sowing. Do spot application of Carbendazim@1gm/ litre of water.

Alternaria Blight: It is a serious disease, it cause reduction in seed and oil yield. Dark, brown black spots are developed first on lower leaves, later spread to middle and upper leaves. In severe infestation spots are observed on stem, petioles.

If infestation is observed, take spray of Mancozeb@3gm per Ltr of water four times with interval of 10days.

Head Rot: Initially, brown irregular water soak spots are observed on back side of ripening head. Afterwards spot get large and pulpy and get covered with white cottony fungus later on it become black.

Injury before flowering or during the early stage of head development is unlikely to favour infection so avoid injury to head. If infection is observed, take spray of Mancozeb@2gm per Ltr of water.

Complete harvesting of crop when all leaves are dry and back of head turns lemon yellow color. Do not delay in harvesting as it leads to lodging of crop also chances of termite attacked increases.

After separations of heads, dry them for 2-3 days. Proper drying leads to easy separation of seeds. Threshing of heads can be done either manually by beating them with sticks or rubbing them or with power operated thresher. After threshing, dry seed before storage, bring moisture content to 9-10%.