Sunflower, the name "Helianthus" is derived from ‘Helios’ meaning ‘sun’ and ‘anthus’ meaning ‘flower’. It called as sunflower as it follow 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 45-50 percent edible oil.

It can be grown on wide range of soil. It gives best result when grown under fertile, well-drained soil. It can tolerate slight alkaline soil. Avoid sowing in acidic, also water logging soil. Ideal pH is around 6.5-8.

A)    Packaged varieties:
 
Morden: The variety matures in 75-80 days. It gives an average yield of 2.5-3.3qtl/acre of seeds. The seeds contain 40-44% oil content. It is a dwarf variety and is suitable for growing in almost all states.

Peredovik EC 68414: The variety matures in 100-110 days. It gives an average yield of 3.3-4qtl/acre of seeds. The seeds contain 42-46% oil content. It is suitable for late transplanting.

EC 68415: The variety matures in 100-110 days. It gives an average yield of 3-4qtl/acre of seeds. The seeds contain 42-45% oil content. The variety is tolerant to drought.

Surya: The variety matures in 90-95 days. It gives an average yield of 3.3-4qtl/acre of seeds. The seeds contain 30-35% oil content. It has black seeds having white strips.

Co 1: The variety matures in 60-65 days. It gives an average yield of 2-2.9qtl/acre of seeds. The seeds contain 38-40% oil content.

Co 2: The variety matures in 85-90 days. It gives an average yield of 3.3-4qtl/acre of seeds. The seeds contain 38-42% oil content. It is resistant to red rot and it is an early maturing variety.

SS 56: The variety matures in 80-90 days. It gives an average yield of 3.3-4qtl/acre of seeds. The seeds contain 36-38% oil content. It is an early maturing variety.

Haryana Sunflower 1: The variety matures in 80-90 days. It gives an average yield of 6-7qtl/acre of seeds. The seeds contain 37-38% oil content.

TNAUSUF 7: The variety matures in 87-89days. It gives an average yield of 4-5qtl/acre of seeds. The seeds contain 38-40% oil content.

Gujarat Sunflower 15: The variety matures in 90-95 days. It gives an average yield of 3.3-4qtl/acre of seeds. The seeds contain 32-35% oil content.

B)    Hybrid varieties:

KBSH 1: The variety matures in 90-95 days. It gives an average yield of 4-6qtl/acre of seeds. The seeds contain 42-45% oil content. The variety is resistant to pest and is tolerant to Alternaria leaf spot and drought.

APSH 112: The variety matures in 90-95 days. It gives an average yield of 4-6qtl/acre of seeds. The seeds contain 40-42% oil content. The variety is suitable for late sowing and is resistant to Alternaria.

NSFH 8: The variety matures in 90-95 days. It gives an average yield of 4-6qtl/acre of seeds. The seeds contain 38-42% oil content. It is moderately resistant to alternaria leaf spot and pests.

NSFH 17: The variety matures in 100-105 days. It gives an average yield of 4-6qtl/acre of seeds. The seeds contain 40-42% oil content. It is resistant to pests and downy mildew.

NSFH 36: The variety matures in 90-100 days. It gives an average yield of 8-10qtl/acre of seeds. The seeds contain 42-44% oil content. It is resistant to pest.

Divyamukhi: The variety matures in 90-100 days. It gives an average yield 10-11qtl/acre of seeds. The seeds contain 41-42% oil content. It is suitable for sowing in north areas.

Badshah: The variety matures in 90-100 days. It gives an average yield 7.5-9qtl/acre of seeds. The seeds contain 40% oil content. The variety is resistant to Alternaria and is suitable for sowing in north areas.

Jwalamukhi: The variety matures in 90-105 days. It gives an average yield 8-10qtl/acre of seeds. The seeds contain 40-42% oil content. It is suitable for sowing all over India and is resistant to Alternaria and rust.

Prison 09: The variety matures in 92-98 days. It gives an average yield 4-10qtl/acre of seeds. The seeds contain 42-44% oil content. Suitable for whole India.

PAC 36: The variety matures in 100-105 days. It gives an average yield 8-10qtl/acre of seeds. The seeds contain 40-41% oil content. The variety is resistant to diseases and is suitable for whole India.

PAC 1091: The variety matures in 95-100 days. It gives an average yield 8-9qtl/acre of seeds. The seeds contain 37-39% oil content. It is suitable for whole India.

HSFH 848: The variety matures in 95-98 days. It gives an average yield 6.6-10qtl/acre of seeds. The seeds contain 40-42% oil content. It is suitable for whole India.

PSFH 118: The variety matures in 95-98 days. It gives an average yield 6.6-10qtl/acre of seeds. The seeds contain 39-42% oil content. It is suitable for whole India.

Sungene 85: The variety matures in 80-85 days. It gives an average yield 7.5-8qtl/acre of seeds. The seeds contain 37-38% oil content. It is an early maturing variety and is resistant to diseases.

No. 6460: The variety matures in 95-100 days. It gives an average yield 8-10qtl/acre of seeds. The seeds contain 40-42% oil content. The variety is resistant to diseases.

KVSH 41: The variety matures in 95-100 days. It gives an average yield 8-10qtl/acre of seeds. The seeds contain 42-43% oil content.

KVSH 44: The variety matures in 95-100 days. It gives an average yield 9-11qtl/acre of seeds. The seeds contain 42-43% oil content.

To prepare fine seed bed, carry out two to three ploughings operation followed by planking.

Time of sowing
In rainfed areas, sowing is done in start-monsoon and in spring season, sowing is done in 10th February to 25th February.

Spacing
For composite variety, use spacing of 45 cm between row to row while keep plant to plant spacing of 25-30 cm.

Sowing Depth
Sow the seed at depth of 3-4 cm.

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

Seed Rate
Use seed rate of 4-5 kg/acre for sowing.
 
Seed Treatment
Before sowing for quick germination, soak the seed in water for 24 hour and shade dry. Then treat the seed with Thiram @3 gram per kg of seed. It will protect seeds from soil borne pest and disease. To protect crop from downy mildew, treat seed with Metalaxyl @6 gram per kg of seed. Treat the seed with Imidacloprid @5-6 gram per kg of seed.

Fertilizer Requirement (kg/acre)

Nutrient Requirement (kg/acre)

For composite variety, apply N: P: K @ 18:04:09 kg/acre in form of Urea@41kg, SSP@25kg and potash@16kg in soil. Full dose of phosphorus, potash and 2/3rd dose of nitrogen is given at time of sowing and rest of the dose of nitrogen is given at the time of flower germination.

Keep sunflower field weeds 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@1litre in 150-200 litre of water per acre as pre emergence herbicide within 2-3 days after sowing.

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

For good growth and yield, usually five to six irrigations are required. Apply first irrigation one month after sowing. When crop is at 50% flowering, soft and hard dough stages are critical for irrigation. Water stress during this stage leads to severe yield loss. Avoid excessive or two frequent irrigations as it increases chances of wilt and root rot attacked.

Honey bees play important role in increasing seed set, if honey bee activity is low, then supplemental hand pollination on alternate days preferably in morning hours, between 8-11 am. For this purpose, about 7-10 days 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 theri 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.

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.

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.

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%.