Sunflower
Scientific Name
Helianthus annuus
pH
6.5-8.0
Temperature
growing period: 20 to 25 o C, flowering should not exceed 38 o C
Rainfall
300-500mm
Humidity
High humidity to be avoided duirng flower set
Sowing Time
1st week of October to Middle of November
Seed Rate
5-6 kg/ha; 60cm * 20cm spacing
Fertilizer Application
15-20 tonnes FYM/ha
irrigated- 65:35:35 NPK kg/ha
Rainfed- 45:55:45 NPK kg/ha
irrigated- 65:35:35 NPK kg/ha
Rainfed- 45:55:45 NPK kg/ha
Weeds
Corchorus olitorius, Amaranthus viridis, Chloris barbata, cynodon, cyperus, celosia
Weeding
Provide two hoeings followed by one hand weeding at an interval of 15 days commencing from 15-20 DAS followed by one hand weeding and interculture at 35 DA
Weed Management
alachlor or pendimethalin or fluchloralin at the rate of 1.5 kg a.i./ha in 600 litres of water as pre-emergence spray on the same evening after sowing
Irrigation
3-4 irrigations at 35, 75, 110 days followed along grain filling stage
Earthing up and Hoeing
Hoe and hand weed on the 15th and 30th day of sowing and remove the weeds, Earthing up may be done when the crop is 60-70 cm tall
Harvesting Index
when the back of heads turn yellow and bracts brownish
Harvesting
cut the stem one inch below the head
Post Harvest Activities
Thresh after drying for 2 - 3 days and store the seed with 9 - 10% moisture
Marketing
800-1000 kg/ha harvest
Insect
Sunflower moth
Banded sunflower moth
Sunflower midge
Sunflower beetle
Sunflower stem weevil
Red sunflower seed weevil
Follow clean cultivation by keeping bunds and ; Apply methyl parathion 2% dust @ 25 kg/ha; Collect and destroy egg masses and early stage larvs;
Banded sunflower moth
Sunflower midge
Sunflower beetle
Sunflower stem weevil
Red sunflower seed weevil
Follow clean cultivation by keeping bunds and ; Apply methyl parathion 2% dust @ 25 kg/ha; Collect and destroy egg masses and early stage larvs;
Disease
Downy mildew (Plasmopara halstedi)
Powdery mildew (Erysiphe cichoracearum)
Leaf spot (Septoria helianthi)
Verticillium wilt
Rust
Sclerotinia head and stem ro
Phoma black stem
Treat the seed with captan/thiram @ 2.5 g, Removal and destruction of crop residues, Seed treatment with imiodacloprid @ 5 g/kg of seed
Powdery mildew (Erysiphe cichoracearum)
Leaf spot (Septoria helianthi)
Verticillium wilt
Rust
Sclerotinia head and stem ro
Phoma black stem
Treat the seed with captan/thiram @ 2.5 g, Removal and destruction of crop residues, Seed treatment with imiodacloprid @ 5 g/kg of seed
Varieties
BSH-1, KBSH-1, IV1SFH-17, Jwalamukhi, Sungene-SS, PAC-36, TNAUSUF-7
Recommended Area