Sunflower Farming: A Complete Guide

General Information

Sunflower, the name “Helianthus” is derived from ‘Helios’ meaning ‘sun’ and ‘Anthus’ meaning ‘flower’. It is called a sunflower as it follows the sun, always turning toward its direct rays. It is an important oilseed crop in the country. Sunflower oil is most popular because of its light colour, bland flavour, high smoke point and high level of linoleic acid which is good for heart patients. Sunflower seed contains about 48– 53 per cent edible oil.

Climate

• Temperature20°C – 25°C
• Rainfall500-700 mm
• Sowing Temperature20°C – 25°C
• Harvesting Temperature35°C – 37°C

Soil

It can be grown on a wide range of soil from sandy loam to black soils. It gives the best result when grown under fertile, well-drained soil. It can tolerate slightly alkaline soil. Avoid sowing in acidic also waterlogging soil. The ideal pH is around 6.5-8. Crop rotation follows in Punjab, Rice/Maize – Potato-Sunflower, Rice-Toria-Sunflower, Cotton-sunflower, Sugarcane-sugarcane ratoon-sunflower and kharif-fodder- toria-sunflower.

Popular Varieties With Their Yield

Jwalamukhi: It is a medium-tall hybrid crop. Its average plant height is about 170 cm. Ready to harvest in 120 days. It gives an average yield of 7.3 qtl/acre. Oil content is about 42%.

GKSFH 2002: It is a medium-tall hybrid crop. Ready to harvest in about 115 days. It gives an average yield of 7.5 qtl/acre. Oil content is about 42.5%.

SH 3322: It is a variety having a plant height of 160 cm. Ready to harvest in 120 days. Its average yield is 8.3qtl/acre. Oil content is about 43%.

PSFH 118: It is a short-duration hybrid having an average plant height of 155 cm. Ready to harvest in 98 days. It gives an average yield of 7.6 qtl/acre. It contains 40.5% oil content.

PSH 569 (2008): It is a medium-tall hybrid with a short duration and a plant height of 162 cm on average. 7.4 quintals per acre are the average seed yields. With a seed weight of 6.8 g per 100, they are big seeds. 36.3 per cent of the oil content of the seeds. It takes approximately 98 days for it to reach full maturity. This hybrid can also be seeded late.

PSH 996 (2012): It is a medium-tall hybrid with a short duration and an average plant height of 141 cm. This hybrid produces 7.8 quintals of seed per acre on average. The seeds are dark and bold, weighing 6.8 g per 100. This hybrid has a 35.8 per cent oil content. It takes 96 days to reach full maturity. This hybrid is also well-suited to late-sowing conditions.

DK 3849 (2013): It’s a tall hybrid, with a plant height of 172 cm on average. This hybrid’s average seed yield is 8.4 quintals per acre, with a seed weight of 4.5 g per 100 seeds. These hybrid seeds have a 34.5 per cent oil content. It takes 102 days to reach maturity.

PSH 1962 (2015): It is a medium-tall, short-duration hybrid with an average plant height of 165 cm. This hybrid has an average seed output of 8.2 quintals per acre. This hybrid’s seeds are black and bold, weighing 6.4 g per 100 seeds. This hybrid has a 41.9 per cent oil content. It takes 99 days to mature.

PSH 2080 (2019): It is a medium-tall hybrid with a short duration and an average plant height of 151 cm. This hybrid produces 9.8 quintals of seed per acre on average. This hybrid’s seeds are black and elongated, weighing 5.8 g per 100 seeds. This hybrid has a 43.7 per cent oil content. It takes 97 days to reach maturity.

Older varieties:

SSH 3322 (1997): It is a medium-tall hybrid with a long duration and an average plant height of 160 cm. It produces 8.3 quintals per acre on average. It has a 43.0% aromatic oils. The maturation process takes 120 days.

BSH 1(1980): Developed by AICRP (Sunflower) centre, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru. Its average yield is 10-12 q/acre. It takes 90-95 days to mature.

Other state varieties:

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

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.

Land Preparation

To prepare a fine seed bed, carry out two to three ploughing operations followed by planking. To obtain a good yield, complete sowing should be done by January end. In case of delay in sowing, when it is to be done in February, use the transplanting method as direct sowing causes a reduction in yield also delayed sowing causes high pest and disease incidence.

Sowing

Time of sowing
To obtain a good yield, complete the sowing of the sunflower by January end. In case of delay in sowing, when it is to be done in February, use the transplanting method as direct sowing causes a reduction in yield also delayed sowing causes high pest and disease incidence.

Spacing
Use spacing of 60 cm between the rows while keeping a plant-to-plant distance of 30 cm.

Sowing Depth
Sow the seeds at a depth of 4-5 cm.

Method of sowing
For sowing ,the dibbling method was used. Also placing seeds on a flatbed or ridge with the help of a row crop planter is used for sunflower sowing.

Use the transplanting method in case of delayed sowing. 30 sq.m of nursery is suitable for transplanting one acre of land. Use a seed rate of 1.5 kg. Prepared nursery 30 days before transplanting. For preparing the seedbed, mix 0.5 kg Urea and 1.5 kg Single superphosphate. Cover the seed bed with a transparent polythene sheet and prepare the tunnel. Remove the polythene sheet after seedling emergence. When seedlings are at the 4-leaf stage, they are ready for transplanting. Irrigate the nursery before uprooting the crop for transplanting.

Seed

Seed Rate
Use a seed rate of 2-3 kg/acre for sowing. For hybrid use seed rate of 2-2.5kg/acre.

Seed Treatment
Before sowing for quick germination, soak seeds in water for 24 hours and shade dry. Then treat seeds with Thiram@2gm per kg of seeds. It will protect seeds from soil-borne pests and diseases. To protect crops from downy mildew, treat seeds with Metalaxyl@6gm per kg of seeds. Treat seeds with Imidacloprid@5-6ml per kg of seeds.    

Fungicide  name	Quantity (Dosage per kg seed)
Imidacloprid	5-6ml
Thiram	2gm

Fertilizer

 Fertilizer requirement (kg/acre)

UREA		SSP	MURIATE OF POTASH
50		75	On soil test results

Nutrients Value(kg/acre)

NITROGEN	PHOSPHORUS	POTASH
24	12	#

Apply 4-5 tons of well-decomposed cow dung per acre in soil two to three weeks before sowing. Overall apply N: P@ 24:12 kg/acre in the form of Urea@50kg, SSP@75kg in soil. For an accurate dose of fertilizer do soil testing and apply doses based on it. Apply half the dose of nitrogen and a full dose of P at the time of sowing. Apply the rest of the nitrogen 30 days after sowing. In the case of an irrigated crop, apply the remaining half dose of Nitrogen in two equal splits, first 30 days after sowing while remaining after 15 days.

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

Weed Control

Keep sunflower field weed-free during the first 45 days of crop period and irrigate the crop at critical stages. Two to three weeks after sowing, complete the first weeding operation followed by the second weeding operation three weeks afterwards. To control weeds chemically, spray them with Pendimethalin@1Ltr in 150-200 Ltr per acre as pre-emergence herbicide within 2-3 days after sowing. Protect crop from lodging when the crop is 60-70 cm tall but before flowering complete earthling up operation.

Irrigation

Depending upon soil type, and weather conditions, generally, nine to ten irrigation are required to crop. Apply first irrigation one month after sowing. When the crop is at 50% flowering, the soft and hard dough stage is critical for irrigation. Water stress during this stage leads to severe yield loss. Avoid excessive or two frequent irrigation as it increases the chances of wilt and root rot attacks. In case of heavy soil apply irrigation at intervals of 20-25 days and 8-10 days in case of light soil.

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

Plant protection

• Pest and their control:

Tobacco caterpillars: These are serious pests of sunflowers. There infestation is observed during April-May month. They feed on leaves.

Destroy young larvae along with damaging crops away from the field. If an infestation of tobacco caterpillar is seen, spray Fipronil SC@2ml/ Ltr of water. In severe cases take two sprays at 10-day intervals or Spray Spinosad@5ml/10Ltr of water or Nuvaan+Indoxacarb@1ml/Ltr water.

Head borer or American bollworm: It is a serious pest of sunflower. It damages plants as these feed on tissue and develop grains in the head. Fungus is developed and heads get rotted. Larva shows colour 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 the surface of leaves. Due to infestation, the drying up of plants is observed. Larvae are yellow with black hairs.

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

Jassid: The incidence of sucking pests like jassids is observed in the bud initiation stage. In Jassid’s’s attack cupped, crinkled leaves and burnt appearance are symptoms of damage.

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

• Disease and their control

Rust: Rust disease may cause yield loss of 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 a 15-day interval or Hexaconazole@2ml/Ltr of water twice at 10 days interval.

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

Soil application of Trichoderma 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 noticed within 40 days of sowing. Plants become sick and can observe from a distance. White cottony fungus is observed on the nearby soil surface of the affected plant. Before sowing do seed treatment with Thiram@2gm per kg of seeds.

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

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

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

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

Harvesting

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 the lodging of the crop also chances of termite attacks increase.

Post-Harvest

After the separation of the 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 power-operated thresher. After threshing, dry the seed before storage, and bring the moisture content to 9-10%.