Cultivation Of Sunflower In India And Its Uses

Sunflower is one of the most grown crops in India, it is grown mainly for its oil, India is one of the largest producers of Sunflower oil, hence the farmers in India prefer to grow it. The Farmers in India eager to cultivate this oilseed because it can provide more profit and income as compared to other crops.

The Cultivation of sunflower is not easy as compared to other crops because the cultivation is done with extra due care.

Soil

Sunflower can be grown in deep loam and black soil with good drainage facilities, to grow a healthier crop the PH level of soil should be around 6.5 to 8.5.

Climate

The Sunflower can be grown in any type of seasons, the germination and seedling can be done in a cold season, the flowering of the Plant can take place during warm weather and maturity of the plant takes place during hot and sunny days.

Sowing

Seeds of sunflower can be sowed in a dibbling or furrow methods, about 5 to 6 kgs of seeds are used in dibbling sowing method per hectare and about 8 to 10 kgs are used in-furrow method per hectare.  

Sunflower Seeds

Before seeds are sowed 3gm of Captan per kg is treated to control fungal disease, the seeds are soaked before germination for about 24 hours, the seeds can be sowed into the soil for about 4 to 5 cms deep in rows, the space of per plants shall be 25 to 30 cms.

  
Preparation Of Land For Sowing

Before sowing of the seeds the weeds if present in the land is destroyed and about 3 to 5 ploughs are made in the land, before seeds are sowed the moisture should be present in the soil, if irrigation facility is available water is supplied in a slower rate.

Irrigation and Fertilizers  

Irrigation facility is most important during the summer season for the Sunflower cultivation, about 4 to 5 times irrigations are necessary, about one irrigation is necessary during grain filling stage.

The fertilizers such as Potash, Nitrogen and Phosphorous are applied 20 kg, 30 kg and 20kg per hectare. in case of organic fertilizers, compost up to 10 to 15 tonnes can be applied in unfertile land.

Varieties

Some of the Sunflower seeds are:-

a. E.C.68415 - Armavirski.

b. E.C.68414 - Peredovick.

c. E.C.101495 - Cernianka.

d. E.C.69874 - Armaverts. 

Plant Protection From Pest And Disease

Disease

a. Leaf rust

The leaf rust is controlled by spraying Dithane Z - 78.

b. Root rotting

This is controlled by administering Brassical to Soil.

Pest

The pest like Grasshopper is controlled by spraying dust cabaryl 25 kg per hectare.

Harvesting

The Sunflower crop is harvested when the flower is matured and head turns Yellowish - brown, the head is cut and dried in sun, after this the seeds are separated from flower and stored in a bags.

The Sunflower can yield grains up to 500 to 1200 kgs in all seasonal conditions.

Uses

1. One of the main use of sunflower is the manufacturing of oil which has health benefits.

2. Preparation of Vanaspati.

3. Used for Cosmetics.

4. Used for poultry and Cattle feeds.

My View

The main advantage of Sunflower Cultivation is it can be grown in every seasonal condition, if the procedures are followed correctly in cultivating the crop one can expect a good income.