Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)
- 3rd most important oilseed crop of world
- Sunflowers belong to the family Compositae
- Best growing area – temperate region
- Native of southern United State and Mexico
- Introduced in India in 1969
- Drought resistance
- Wide adaptability
- Photoperiod insensitivity
- Short duration (75-100 days)
- High yield potential
- High PUFA (Poly Unsaturated Fatty Acid) like oleic and linoleic acid
- Premium oil
- High level of linoleic acid and absence of linolenic acid
- Sunflower is protandrous-male and female elements mature at different times
- Head is heliotropic (flower bent towards sunlight due to high level of auxin)
- A cross pollinated crop
- Inflorescence- capitulum
- Major sunflower growing country – Argentina, Ukrian
- Major sunflower growing state-KN, MH, AP
Oil content-
- Globally-48-53%
- In India– 35-43%
Climate-
- Cool for germination
- Warm for seedling
- Best in 300-500 mm rainfall area
Soil –
- Best pH-6.5-8.5
- Well drained soil
- Heavy black cotton soil is good
Seed rate-8-10 kg/ha
Spacing-
- 60 x 30 cm
- 45 x 30 cm (short duration)
- 55,555 plants/ha
Seed treatment- Thiram
Thinning – 15-18 DAS
Maintain – 1 seedlings/hill
Weed control- Pendamenthalin
Irrigation – 8-10 days interval
Critical stage- Bud initiation, Flower opening, Seed filling
Supplemental pollination
- Hand pollination by honey
- Maintain – 5 bee hives/ha
Bird damage is serious problem
- Parrot mainly
- Bright reflector ribbons used
Harvest at head turn to lemon yellow colour
- Yield-8-10 q/ha (rainfed), 20-15 q/ha (irrigated)
- Incidence of virus disease is less when sowing is done after 15 Aug
- Avoid low lying areas for its cultivation
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