Sunflower Crop Full Cultivation Practices

Introduction:-

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) is grown as an oilseed crop worldwide in temperate and subtropical climates. Among oilseeds, sunflower generally ranks fifth behind soybeans, rapeseed, cottonseed, and peanuts, with an average annual world production of 21-27 million metric tons. nlike soybean, sunflower is primarily an oil crop, with high protein meal being a by-product.

Sunflower is grown on every continent, with Argentina, the former USSR, Eastern Europe, the European Union, and the United States being the largest producers. The flower head is actually an inflorescence made of hundreds or thousands of tiny flowers called florets. The central florets look like the centre of a normal flower, apseudanthium. The benefit to the plant is that it is very easily seen by the insects and birds which pollinate it, and it produces thousands of seeds.

Root:

Sunflowers (Helianthus spp.) have a single taproot and smaller, hairy secondary roots. Sunflower roots usually grow 1 to 3 feet deep, and United States Department of Agriculture soil scientists have measured sunflower roots more than 5 feet long.

Stem:

The plant has a thick, hairy, erect stem which gives rise to a large flower head. The plant has large, broad lower leaves which are oval and arranged alternately on the stem and smaller, narrower upper leaves which are attached individually to the stem.

Leaves:

Common sunflower leaves are arranged alternately along the stem except for new leaves at the base of the plant, which are arranged opposite. Leaves are simple, have serrated margins, and are triangular to heart-shaped in outline. Leaves are 4 top 12 inches in length and have hairs on both surfaces.

Inflorescence:

A capitulum or head, the characteristic inflorescence of the sunflower family (Asteraceae). Depending on the tribe, the inflorescence may consist of ray flowers, disk flowers, or both ray and disk flowers.

Climate:

This crop requires a cool climate during germination and seedling growth, warm weather from the seedling stage up to flowering and non-cloudy, sunny days during flowering to maturity. Optimal temperatures for growing sunflowers are between 70˚F and 78˚F. Still, they tolerate high heat as long as their moisture needs are met. Sunflowers can handle somewhat chilly but sunny environments.

Soil:

It performs well in deep, neutral and well-drained light soils as well as in heavy soils. The optimum pH of the soils for this crop is 6.5-8.5.

Loam Soil:

Loam soil is a mixture of sand, silt and clay that are combined to avoid the negative effects of each type. These soils are fertile, easy to work with and provide good drainage. Depending on their predominant composition they can be either sandy or clay loam. As the soils are a perfect balance of soil particles, they are considered to be a gardener best friend, but still benefit from topping up with additional organic matter.

Varieties:

STATE-WISE VARIETIES/HYBIRDS OF SUNFLOWER CROP NOTIFIED UNDER SEED ACT 

State	Variety Type	Recommended Varieties
Andhra Pradesh	Hybrid	PAC-334, Olisun 3794 (PAC-3794), DCS-107, Prabhat (NDSH-1012)
Bihar	Hybrid	DCS-107, Kaveri Champ
Chhattisgarh	Hybrid	DCS-107
Gujarat	Hybrid	DCS-107
Haryana	Hybrid	DCS-107, Kaveri Champ
Jharkhand	Hybrid	DCS-107
Karnataka	Variety	RSFV-901(Kanthi)
Hybrid	RSFH-1 (Tunga), KBSH-53, PAC-334, DCS-107, RSFH-130, Olisun 3794 (PAC-3794), RSFH-1887
Maharashtra	Variety	Phule Raviraj, Phule Bhaskar (SS-8808)
Hybrid	LSFH-35 (Maruti), PAC-334, DCS-107, Olisun 3794 (PAC-3794)
Odisha	Hybrid	DCS-107, Kaveri Champ
Punjab	Hybrid	PSFH-569, DCS-107, PSH-1962
Tamil Nadu	Hybrid	PAC-334, DCS-107, CO-2, Olisun 3794 (PAC-3794)

CHARACTERS OF NOTIFIED VARIETIES/HYBRIDS OF SUNFLOWER

(A) Varieties:

Variety	Year of Release	Released Centre	Oil Content (%)	Yield Potential (Kg/ha)	Recommended states/regions situations	Safety features/traits
Phule Raviraj	2009	MPKV, Rahuri	1795	34	Western Maharashtra	Tolerant to Necrosis, Alternaria and Capitulum borer.
RSFV-901 (Kanthi)	2012	RARS-Raichur	1200-1400	–	Karnataka	Tolerant necrosis
Phule Bhaskar (SS-0808)	2016	ZARS Rahuri	3000	37.9	Maharashtra

(B) Hybrids:

Variety	Year of Release	Released Centre	Oil Content (%)	Yield Potential (Kg/ha)	Recommended states/regions situations	Safety features/traits
LSFH-35 (Maruti)	2008	MAU, Latur	1600-1900	36-38	Maharashtra
RSFH-1 (Tunga)	2008	RARS, Raichur	1300-1600	40-41	Karnataka
KBSH-53	2009	UAS, Bangalore	1700-2700	42-44	Karnataka	Resistant to powdery mildew
PSFH-569	2009	PAU Ludhiana	2232	40	Punjab	High oil, early hybrid
PAC-334	2009	Advanta India Ltd	1700-1800	32	Maharashtra, AP, KNK, TN
Suryamukhi	2010	PAU, LudhianA	2000-2200	40	Punjab
DCS-107	2011	DOR, Hyd	1762		All media	Non lodging non shattering
RSFH-130	2012	RARS, Raichur	1200-1500	40	Karnataka	Tolerant to necrosis
Hybrid	Year of Release	Released Centre	Yield potential (Kg/ha)	Oil content (%)	Recommended states/regions situations	Safety features/ traits
CO-2	2012	TNAU, Coimbatore	1900-2200	38-40	Tamil Nadu	Moderate resistant to Alternaria leaf spot, rust & tolerant to thrips and leaf hopper
Olisun 3794 (PAC-3794)	2013	Advant India ltd	1594	38	Maharashtra,TN, Karnataka, AP	For both rainfed/ irrigated & Kharif/ rabi,resistant to downey mildew
PSH-1962	2016	AICRP PAU Ludhiana	2300	41.9	Punjab	For Irrigated Conditions
RSFH-1887	2016	AICRP UAS Raichur	1800-2500	38-40	Karnataka
PDKVSH-952	2017	PDKV Akola	1800-2000	36.8	Maharashtra
Prabhat (NDSH-1012)	2017	RARS Nandyal	1500-2000 (RF), 2000-2500 (I)	40-41	Andhra Pradesh
Kaveri Champ	2017				Haryana, Bihar, WB, Odisha
DSFH-3	2018		1800-2000	38-39	Karnataka	Suitable for rabi season, Marurity 95-98days
LSFH-171	2018		1800-2000	35	MS, Karnataka, TN, AP, TS, Odisha, Bihar, WB	Stress tolerant hybrid for Rabi. Resistant to downey mildew.  Maturity 90-95days
COH-3	2018		1610-1820	40-42	Tamil Nadu	Suitable for both Kharif & Rabi season. Maturity 90-95days

Spacing:

• Hybrids: 60 cm x 30cm Varieties: 45 cm x 30cm
• Place the seeds at a depth of 3 cm along the furrows in which the fertilizer mixture is placed and cover with soil. Put two seeds per hole.

Seed treatment

• Soaking seeds in 2% ZnS04 for 12 hours and shade drying is recommended for rain fed sowing.
• Treat the seed with Trichoderma @4g/kg. This can be done just before sowing.
• It is compatible with bio-fertilizers. Such seeds should not be treated with fungicides.
• Treat the seeds with Carbendazim or Thiram at 2 g/kg of seed.
• Treat the seeds 24 hours prior to sowing. Azospirillum: Use 3 packets of Azospirillum (600 g/ha) and 3 packets (600 g/ ha) of Phosphobacteria or 6 packets of Azophos (1200 g/ ha) for treating seeds using rice kanji as binder.
• Dry the treated seeds in shade for 15 minutes and sow immediately.
• Moist hydration for 24 hours in moist gunny bags followed by drying and seed dressing with Thiram @ 2g/kg to enhance field emergence. Seeds dried to 8-9%

Land preparation:

Plough once with tractor or twice with iron-plough or three to four times with country-plough till all the clods are broken and a fine tilth is obtained. Spread 12.5 t/ha of FYM or compost or composted coir pith evenly on the field before the last ploughing and incorporate in the soil by working a country plough.

Fertilizers:

• Spread 12.5 t/ha of FYM or compost
• Apply NPK fertilizers basally as per soil test recommendations. If soil test recommendations are not available, follow the blanket NPK/ha for both irrigated and rain fed crops.

Biofertilizer:

Soil application – Mix 10 packets (2000 g/ha) of Azospirillum and 10 packets (2000 g/ha) of Phosphobacteria or 20 packets of Azophos (4000 g/ha) with 25 kg FYM and 25 kg soil and apply before sowing.

Irrigation

• Irrigate the crop according to the different growth stages.
• Regulate irrigation according to the following growth phase.
• Irrigate immediately after sowing followed by an irrigation on 4 – 5th day and later at intervals of 7to8 days according to soil and climatic conditions, seeding, flowering and seed development stage two weeks before and after flowering.

Weed management:

• Apply Fluchloralin at 2.0 1/ha before sowing and incorporate or apply as pre-emergence spray on 5 day after sowing followed by irrigation or apply Pendimethalin as pre-emergence spray 3 days after sowing.
• The spray of these herbicides has to be accomplished with Back Pack/Knapsack/Rocker sprayer fitted with flat fan nozzle using 900 water/ha as spray fluid.
• All the herbicide application is to be followed by one late hand weeding 30 – 35 days after sowing. Hoe and hand weed on the 15th and 30th day of sowing and remove the weeds.
• Allow the weeds to dry for 2 – 3 days in the case of irrigated and then give irrigation.

Insect-pest management:

Cutworms:

Several species of cutworms damage young sunflowers at or soon after emergence. Small, transparent windows appearing in young leaves may be caused by small larvae not capable of eating through the leaf. Notches in the leaves or cotyledons may appear if sunflowers are planted into fields with existing infestations.

Life cycle: Depending on the species, the adult lays eggs in the soil in the late summer. Eggs remain dormant until the May/June period. Larvae emerge from late May to early June. They continue to feed and grow until about the end of June. When mature, larvae pupate in earthen cells near the soil surface. The pupal period lasts about three weeks.

Damage: Cutworm damage is caused by larval feeding and normally consists of seedlings being cut off from 1 inch below the soil surface to as much as 1 to 2 inches above the soil surface. Young leaves also may be severely chewed from cutworms climbing up to feed on the plant foliage. Most cutworms feed at night. During the daytime, cutworms usually are found just beneath the soil surface near the base of recently damaged plants. Wilted or dead plants frequently indicate the presence of cutworms. Cut plants may dry and blow away, leaving bare patches in the field as evidence of cutworm infestations.

Management:

Sampling should begin as soon as sunflower plants emerge, and fields should be checked at least twice per week until approximately mid-June. A trowel or similar tool should be used to dig around damaged plants to determine if cutworms are present, since missing plants in a row do not necessarily indicate cutworm damage.

Sowing sunflower seeds on ridges (6-8 cm height), in cutworm endemic areas

Release of Trichogramma chilonus@ 20000/acre

Chemical control:

Apply insecticides like Carbaryl (Sevin), chlorpyrifos etc. Do not apply chlorpyrifos again within 10 days of the first application. Do not graze or feed treated forage.

Jassids:

This pest has been reported from Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu causing crop loss up to 46 %. Widely distributed and mostly seen at seedling stage, sometimes found almost throughout the year. Summer crops are likely to suffer more with this pest than kharif crop.

Life cycle: Adults are greenish yellow, wedge shaped with a pair of black spots on vertex and a black spot on each of the forewings. Nymphs pale greenish almost translucent and walk diagonally. Female inserts eggs into leaf veins on the underside. Eggs hatch in 6-10 days and nymphal period is 7-9 days and the winged adults live for 2-3 weeks. The nymphs moult five times and the whole life cycle is completed in two weeks to more than a month and a half depending upon the temperature and humidity prevailing in the field. It completes 7-8 generations in a year.

Damage symptoms: The incidence would start from seedling stage and prevail right through entire plant life. The adults and nymphs suck the sap from the leaves. The infected leaves show pale yellow coloration. In case of heavy infestation, the leaves turn inwards. The leaf edges turn light pinkish brown. Stunted growth of plant, cupped and crinkled leaves, burnt appearance of leaf margins are symptoms of damage.

Management:

Close spacing reduces pest infestation particularly if the rainfall is heavy.

Apply adequate amount of nitrogen.

Mixed cropping of sunflower with cotton.

Intercropping sunflower with groundnut in the ratio 1:4.

Chemical control: Seed treatment with imidacloprid 48% FS @ 5-9 ml/Kg seed and imidacloprid 70% WS @ 7 ml/ Kg seed.

Spray imidacloprid 17.8% SL @ 40ml/acre diluted in 200 l of water.

White flies:

This is a major pest of sunflower. Highly polyphagous generally appears from November to February. It is a serious pest in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Maharastra. In Tamil Nadu it found round the year.

Life cycle: Nymphs are oval, scale like and remain attached to the leaf surface. Adults are tiny, moth like with yellowish body and wings coated with milky white waxy powder. Eggs are laid singly on the lower surface of the leaves. Eggs hatch in about a week’s time. The nymph stage remains attached on the lower surface of the leaves and takes about 4 weeks to complete development. Number of generations varies between12-15 per year.

Damage: Nymphs and adults suck the sap usually from the under surface of the leaves and excrete honeydew. Infestation causes a medium for growth of black molds. Later, when attack is severe, vitality of the plant is lowered. Leaves appear sickly and get coated with sooty mold. Stunted plant growth, shedding of fruit bodies, it also transmits the leaf curl virus.

Management:

Cultural control: Intercropping sunflower with groundnut in the ratio of 1:4. Whiteflies can be effectively attracted and controlled by yellow sticky traps, which are coated with grease/sticky oily materials.

Biological control: Spray neem product (5% Neem oil before egg laying) or 5 Kg/acre neem kernel extract with any sticky material

Chemical control: Seed treatment with imidacloprid 48% FS @ 5-9ml/Kg seed and imidacloprid 70% WS 7ml/ Kg seed.

Spraying of imidacloprid 17.8% SL @ 40ml/acre diluted in 200 l of water. or malathion 50% EC @ 400 ml/acre diluted in 200- 400 l of water.

Spray Triazophos (2.5 ml/l) or Prophanophos (2 ml/l).

Use of Synthetic pyretheroids increases the intensity of Whitefly.

Aphids:

Polyphagous pest, widely distributed. It is a major pest in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

Cool and humid conditions are favourable for multiplication of the pest while heavy rains wash away the aphid colonies.

Life cycle: Nymphs are light yellowish green or greenish black or brownish. Adults are mostly wingless but few winged forms also seen. Winged and wingless forms breed partheno-genetically and hence population build up is quite fast. It has 12-14 generations per year.

Management:

Removing nearby weeds that may serve as a host for aphids before planting sunflowers can slow or prevent a serious infestation.

Aphids have several natural predators and parasites, including lacewings, ladybugs and the syrphid fly.

These beneficial insects usually provide adequate aphid control unless disrupted by a broad-spectrum, persistent pesticide, dust or ants protecting their source of honeydew. Regularly blasting the sunflowers with a strong spray can knock aphids off of the plants and clear dust, honeydew and sooty mold off leaves.

Excessive or fast-release nitrogen fertilizer encourages a flush of tender new growth that is particularly attractive to aphids.

Chemical: where an aphid infestation is particularly problematic or the aphid predator populations are disrupted, you may have to resort to chemical control. Thoroughly spraying the sunflowers with a narrow-range oil, neem oil or insecticidal soap kills aphids that the material comes into contact with, but has no lasting effect, allowing beneficial insects to return to the area and control aphids. Repeat applications are sometimes necessary. Applying a soap or oil to drought-stressed plants or when the temperature exceeds 900F can injure the sunflowers.

Mealybug:

Peanuts, cotton and mungbeans are alternate hosts of mealybug.

Appearance: Adults of the female are around 3 mm long. Female adults and nymphs are oval-shaped and covered with a white waxy coating giving them a mealy appearance. Males are small aphid like winged insects.

Damage: The mealy bug nymphs and adults attack all parts of the plant including young shoots, leaves and head. They form colonies on shoots, leaves and head, developing into white masses. They cause direct damage by sucking plant sap the insect also produces large quantities of honeydew which encourages growth of black sooty mold on the leaves and twigs resulting in reduced photosynthetic capacity.

Growth malformation characterized by curling and crinkling of leaves. Heavy infestations result in plant death. Infested flowers often drop and usually there is little or no seed production. Sooty mold development on the plants and so reduced photosynthetic activity.

Management:

Cultural:

• Flooding of orchard with water in the month of October to kill the eggs.
• Ploughing of orchard in November.
• Raking of soil around tree trunk to expose the eggs to natural enemies and sun, removal of weeds
• Fastening of alkathene sheet (400 gauge)/grease band of 25 cm wide afterwards mud plastering of trunk at 30 cm above the ground in the middle of December.
• In July –August destruction of fallen leaves infested with scales

Mechanical control: 

• Raking of soil around tree trunk to expose the eggs to natural enemies and sun, removal of weeds and releasing 10-15 grubs

Biological control: 

• Releasing 10-15 grubs of cocinellid predator, C. montrouzieri per plant

Tobacco caterpillar:

It is major pest of sunflower. It is cosmopolitan, highly polyphagous and is reported on sunflower in all sunflower growing areas.

Life cycle:

Egg masses appear golden brown. Eggs are round, white and covered with small hairs. Larvae are pale greenish with dark markings. Larvae are gregarious in the early stages. Pupa is brown and 1.9 cm long. Adult moth has dull brown forewings with wavy white markings, hind wings are hyaline. Hind wing white in color with a brown patch along the margin.

Eggs are laid underneath the leaves in clusters (200 – 300 eggs) covered with cream colored hairs and scales. Incubation period is 4-5 days, Larvae are gregarious when young, later disperse having 5-6 instars. Larval period lasts for 14-21 days; pupal period is 12-14 days. Pupation takes place in the soil. Longevity of adults is 9-10 days. Total life cycle is 35- 50 days, 6-8 generations per year.

Damage:

Early in stars are migratory skeletonisers. The larvae feed on the tender leaves, shoots, bracts and petals. Later, the grown up larvae spread in the field causing defoliation. The larvae also feed on the developing seeds in capitulum.

Early instar larvae scrape on green matter that give a mesh like appearance to damaged leaves which can be spotted easily from a distance. Large irregular holes on leaves, defoliation occurs in severe cases. Appearance of deseeded heads in the field.

Management:

Cultural control: Intercropping sunflower with pigeonpea

Biological control: 

• Spray 5% neem seed kernel extract preferably in the evening. Spray SlNPV @ 100LE/acre. Spray Clerodendrum inerme dust (25%) and plant extracts (10%).

Chemical control: 

• Spray dichlorvos 76% EC @ 250ml/acre diluted in 200- 400 l of water.

Head borer:

It is a serious and destructive pest of sunflower. Itis highly polyphagous with about 183 host plants including important crop plants such as pulses, cotton, vegetables, oilseeds etc. and the pest is prevalent throughout India.

Damage:

The larva is capable of developing on foliage which is rather less common in field situations. The larva consumes leaf in early stage of growth and move towards the capitulum and tunnel the head. On a bloom, usually larvae on hatching get into the bottom of the peripheral florets and feed on ovaries. During pre-anthesis stage, they feed scraping the bracts first and later feed through ray-florets which cover disc florets and finally find access to immature ovaries. The larval growth is better supported by developing seeds. The larva feeds on the developing seeds and bore the head.  Fungal development starts then and head starts rotting. Leaves with irregular holes, damaged heads with seeds eaten and heads rotten due to fungal development are the common symptoms of the pest.

Management:

Cultural:

• Sow 3- 4 lines of maize around the sunflower crop to monitor the moth. Intercropping with pigeonpea, groundnut, finger millet and soybean.
• Sow trap crops like marigold at 50 plants/acre
• Use of pheromone traps (4 traps/acre) for pest intensity identification as well as to trap the male moths
• Setting of light traps (1 light trap/5 acre) to know the range of pest incidence as well as to kill moth population

Biological:

• Release predators like coccinellids, Chrysoperla carnea @1larva/ head.
• Release parasitoides like Trichogramma spp. @ 20,000/acre
• Spray 5% neem oil or 5% neem seed kernel extract
• Spray Clerodendrum inerme dust (25%) and plant extract (10%)
• Spray HaNPV 250 LE + Bt @0.5kg/ha for effective control
• Spray HaNPV 250 LE/ha +1 kg Jaggery + 200ml Sandovit (or) Teepal; mixing and spray in the evening hours only
• Spraying of 5% Neem oil or 5% Neem Seed Kernal extract before egg laying

Chemical:

• Application of Carboryl 1kg/acre.
• Spraying of Monocrotophos 2.0 ml/l of water or Endosulfan 3 ml/l of water or Quinalphos 3ml/l of water or Propenophos 2ml/l of water or Chlorophyriphos 2.5ml/l of water

Bihar hairy caterpillar:

It is a major pest of sunflower. It is a polyphagous pest attacking sunflower, castor, cotton, greengram, bengalgram, maize and sunhemp. It is mainly a pest of rabi-summer sunflower in Maharashtra.

Life cycle: The adult is a medium sized brown moth with 40-50 mm wing span and a red abdomen. Wings are pinkish with numerous black spots. The larvae are covered with long yellowish to black hairs and are up to 5 cm long.

Eggs are laid in cluster of 50-100 on underside of the leaves. Larval period varies from 14 – 21 days. Pupal diapause is noticed. Pupation takes place in the soil under dry leaves. Generation time is 38 – 164 days.

Damage: The larvae are foliage feeders. Young larvae feed gregariously mostly on the under surface of the leaves. Caterpillars feed on leaves and in severe infestation the whole crop is defoliated. Drying up of infected leaves is the main symptom.

Management:

Cultural:

• Pre-monsoon deep ploughing (two to three times) will expose the hibernating pupae to sunlight and predatory birds.
• Timely sowing and clean cultivation.
• Removal and destruction of alternate weed hosts which harbor the hairy caterpillars.
• Use of well rotten manures.
• Intercropping with pigeon pea at a row ratio of 2:1 is effective in reducing the insect attack.

Mechanical:

• Collection and destruction of leaves with eggs.
• Collection and destruction of early instar larvae.
• Collection of infested leaves which show characteristic drying symptoms will reduce the population to a great extent because of the gregarious nature of young larvae

Biological:

• Conserve the natural bio control population of spiders, long horned grasshoppers, praying mantis, robber fly, ants, green lace wing, damsel flies/dragon flies, flower bugs, shield bugs, lady bird beetles, ground beetles, predatory crickets, earwigs etc.,
• Use of NPV (nuclear polyhedrosis virus) on cloudy days @ 500 LE/ha will be effective.
• Spraying of Bacillus thuringenesis @ 400 g/ha or 1 g/l.
• Conserve the braconids parasites

Chemical:

• Dust Lindane 1.3% or Fenvalarate 0.4% @ 15-20 kg/ha.
• Form a deep furrow trench around the field and dust with two per cent methyl parathion to prevent the mass migration of hairy caterpillars.
• Spraying of quinalphos 25 EC @ 2 ml/l, or chlorpyriphos 20 EC @ 2.5 ml/l or endosulfan 35 EC @ 2.0 ml/l is recommended when the caterpillars are younger
• Spray endosulfan 4% dust @ 20 -25 kg/ha or phosalone 35 EC @ 1000ml/ha
• Dust 2 % Methyl parathion or Malathion @ 20 kg/ha
• Spray Methyl parathion 50 EC @ 1 ml/l or Cypermethrin 10 EC @ 0.5 ml/l or Chlorpyriphos 20 EC @ 2 ml/l or Endosulfan 35 EC @ 2 ml/l or Lambda cyhalothrin 5 EC @ 0.5 ml/l
• Spray 5 % Quinalphos 25 EC @ 2ml/l

Parakeet (Bird):

It is slim, green parakeet with the typical short, heavy, deeply hooked, red bill. Hollow space in a tree trunk is the nest of the bid.

Damage: The bird’s damage starts from the milky stage and continues till harvest. These consumes on an average of 152 seeds/day.

Management

• Establishment of scare crows in the field so as to distract the birds.
• Bursting of crackers and carbide guns, tying polythene bags.
• Use of bird scaring tape (reflective ribbon or bird scaring ribbon).
• Using bio-acoustic method like pre-recorded distress calls to distract the birds.
• Destruction of bird nest in and around the field.
• Deploy two labourers per hectare to scare away the birds.
• Pruning of perching and breeding places
• Spraying of neem kernal powder solution at 10 g/litre of water after seed shedding repels the birds. Use of bird proof nets.

Disease management of Sunflower

Downy mildew in sunflower:

Symptoms:

The disease effects on root, basal, stem, leaf & seed. The symptoms are damping-off, systemic infection, local lesion, basal rot or stem gall. Abnormally thick, downward curled leaves and whitish downy growth are developing on lower surface of the leaves (Plate 1).

The flower heads remain sterile and erect (Plate 2). Local foliar lesion symptoms are characterized by small angular greenish yellow spots on leaves (Plate 3). Systemic infection showing chlorotic leaf veins (Plate 4).

Pathogen survives in seed, soil borne through oospores and secondary through wind-borne. Rain during seedling growth favours disease.

Management:

Cultural:

• Deep summer ploughing
• Clean cultivation and field sanitation
• Avoid excessive irrigation
• Removal of infection plants

Chemical:

• Seed treatment
• Metalaxyl – 6g/kg seed
• Spray treatment
• Redomil MZ 72 WP @ 3g/lit at – 20, 40 and 60 days after sowing.

Powdery mildew in sunflower:

Symptoms:

White powdery growth is on the leaves (Plate 1). White to grey mildew appears on the upper surface of older leaves. Symptoms are also seen on stem and petiole.

Conditions that favour the host, also favour the pathogen. Spores germinate optimally at 20-25°C under conditions of high humidity, as quickly as two to four hours after landing on the leaf.

Under optimal conditions, infection will lead to the production of more spores within five to seven days. Spores are primarily dispersed by wind. The disease is more under dry condition to the end of the winter months.

Management:

Cultural:

• Field sanitation
• Early varieties should be preferred

Chemical

• Spray treatment
• Difenconazole 25 EC @ 1ml/lit at initial stage and 15 days of first spray.

Alternaria leaf spot:

This disease commonly occurs in all varieties and it rapidly spread during the rainy season. This disease has been reported from different parts of the world including India. Alternaria leaf blight is known to cause more than 80 per cent of yield loss under severe epiphytotic conditions.

Symptoms:

• Symptoms appear on leaves, petioles, stem, sepals and petals.
• Symptoms appear as dark brown irregular leaf spots with very dark border and grey centre
• Spots first appear on lower leaves, later spread to middle and upper leaves.
• At later stages spots may be formed on petioles, stem and ray florets.
• In later stages the leaf lesions may coalesce causing the leaf to wither.

Management:

Cultural control:

• Deep summer ploughing
• Clean cultivation and field sanitation
• Use of resistant variety
• Planting on mid-September

Chemical control:

• Seed treatment
• Carboxyl 75 WP – 2g/kg of seed
• Captan 80 WP – 2g/kg of seed
• Mancozeb 75 WP – 2g/kg of seed
• Zineb 80 WP – 2g/lit
• Mancozeb 75 WP – 2g/lit
• Hexaconazole 5 EC – 1 ml/lit
• Spray at 40, 55 and 65 days of crop.

Sunflower Necrosis: 

Symptoms:

• Mosaic and chlorotic ring spot on younger leaf.
• Marginal necrosis of leaf (Plate 1).
• Malformation of ear head.
• Necrosis symptoms on stem and stalk.
• Defoliation of ear head.
• Twisting of stem to S shape.

Management:

Cultural control:

• Destroy the weeds and other crop plants around the field
• Sowing of jawar, maize or bajra 3 to 4 rows around the field
• Up root infect plant

Chemical control:

• Seed treatment
• Treat the seeds with Gaucho 70WS @ 4 to 5 g/kg of seeds  
• Confidor 200SL – 0.5ml/l before 20 days and 35 DAS of sowing.

Sunflower Rust:

Symptoms:

• Small reddish brown spots appear on the lower leaves (Plate 1).
• They slowly spread on all the leaves and green parts of the head.
• The leaves may turn yellow.

Management:

Cultural control:

• Crop sanitation

Chemical control:

• Zineb 80 WP – 2g/lit
• Mancozeb 75 WP – 2g/lit, Spray 15 days interval of 2 to 3 times.

Harvesting:

• Cut the capitula (flower heads) only. 
• Thresh and clean immediately after harvest, dry the heads in the sun for 3 days.
• Spread the heads in thin layer and give turning once in 3 hours.
• NOTE: Do not heap or store the heads before drying properly as mould fungi will develop and spoil the grain quality.
• Thresh using a mechanical thresher, or beat with a stick and separate the grains.
• Winnow and clean the seeds
• Dry the seeds again in the sun for another two days
• Store in gunny bags

Yield:

The sunflower crop gives a grain yield of 120-200 kg per acre under rain fed conditions and 320-480 kg per acre when grown under irrigation.