Sunflower cultivation in paskistan By Mr Allah Dad Khan Former DG Agriculture Extension KPK Pakistan

1. SUNFLOWERCULTIVATION IN PASKISTAN A Programme ForSAMMA TV Pakistan
History Sunflowerisnative toNorthAmerica,earliersettlersgrew sunflowerforfood,garden
decoration.European explorersbroughtsunfloweralongtrade routestoSpain,Italy,
Egypt , Afghanistan,India,Chinaand Russia,
Areaand
productionof
Sunflower
In World
Area25.801 millionhectares
Production1.41 million metrictons
Countries
rankingin
production of
Sunflower
2012
1. Ukraine
2. Russian
3. European Communities
4. Argentine
5. China
6. USATurkey
7. Turkey
8. India
PakistanArea
and Production
of Sunflower
Area348000 Hector
Production513000 tons
Oil 195000 tons
Otheroil seed
crops
Cottonseed,Rape andMustard, Canola,Soybean
Demandof oil
metthrough
Local
Production
30%
Import 70%
Value of import
2013
2.6 BillionUS$
Soil Sunflowergrowswellinsoilsrangingintexture fromsand to clay. It does not require as
highfertilityasothercropslike corn,wheatorpotatotoproducesatisfactory seed yield.
Butgrowsbestonwell drainedsoils.Sunflowergrowsbestatnearneutral soil pH (6.5 to
7.5) but also can be grown on acid soil that have been limed.
Seed bed
preparation
Conventionalsystemsof seedbedpreparationconsistof one deepploughingswith
mouldboardploughfollowedbycultivatorandplankertoplainthe fieldandconserve
the moistureforlongerperiod.Bothgerminationpercentageandlodginghave been
showntoincreaseinridge-tillsystemsascomparedtolevel (flat)planting
Method of
planting
A plantingdepthof 1to3.5 inchesallowssunflowertoreachavailable soil moisture and
givessatisfactoryplantstand. RowtoRow 2.25feetto2.5feet,planttoplantinIrrigated
area 9 inches a part where as in barani area 12 inches a part .In irrigated land 22-25
thousands plants per acre where as in barani land 18 to 20 thousands plants per acre
SeedQuality
and hybrid
Selection
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Name of Hybrid Company selling the seed
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2. Hysun-33 , Hysun -39 ICI, Pakistan Seed Pvt. Ltd, Lahore
Pioneer-64A93 Pioneer Seed Pvt. Ltd,
NK -278 Syngenta
DK 4040 FMC
PARSUN-I NationalAgri. Res. Centre, Islamabad
NK 278 , DK 4040 , FH-331
SeedTreatment Forthispurpose vitavexandBenlateare veryeffective
Seed Rate Generally2-3Kg/acre seedisrecommendeddependingonhybrid,soil type,availabilityof
water and method of sowing.
Time of
Planting
NWFP
Plain Areas Southern Jan, 15 to March 15 July 15 to
Aug,20
(D.I.Khan, Bannu and Kohat)
Plan Area Centeral
( Peshawar,Mardan,Charsadda,Swabi) 15th
Janto15th
March 1st
July to 15th
August
Hilly Areas Northern
(Swat, Mansehra and other areas) March, 01 to Jun, 30
____________________________________________
Direction of
Rows Sunflower grown in East-West (EW) and North-South (NS) did not differ in yield, oil
content, seed weight, but significantly more lodging occurs in EW rows.
Depth of
Planting Ideal planting depth for sunflower is 3-5 cm.
Temperature
The optimum range for better seed set is 25-35 C.
Water
requirements Irrigations schedule for sunflower during spring and autumn seasons
Irrigations Stages during Spring crop Autumn Crop
First 25 days after germination 15 days after germination
Second 15 to20 daysafterfirstirrigation 10 to 15 days after first
irrigation
Third At the time of head initiation Atthe time of flowerinitiation
Fourth Atthe time of flowercompletion At the time of seed setting
Fifth 10-15 days before harvest
Fertilizer

3. Requirements: 2 bagsof ureaand2 bagsof DAPperacre shouldbe applied.InirrigatedareasUrea
shouldbe appliedintwosplits,i.e.,half ureashouldbe appliedatthe timeof seedbed
preparationandtheresthalfshouldbe appliedwith 2nd
irrigation.
Inrainfedareasallthe ureaandDAPshouldbe appliedatthe timeof landpreparation
Weed Control
Successfulweedcontrolshouldincludeacombinationof cultural andchemicalmethods.
INSECT PEST
ATTACKING
SUNFLOWER
Insect Name Mode of damage
Control
Sucking Insects
Whitefly Suck the cell Sap from leaves. Spray with systemic
insecticides, i.e., Itdoesnottransmit Cotton Leaf confidor
Curl Virus (CLCV)
Plant hoppers Suck the cell sap from leaves. Spray with systemic insecticides
It does not transmit CLCV
Seed bug Sucking, cell sap from seed Spray short residual systemic
insecticides.
Eating Insects
Army worm Leaf eating Spraywithsuitableinsecticides
ml/acre
Hairy cater pillar Leaf eating Hand picking of eggs and
clusters from leaves.Spray of
contactinsecticides,
Heliothis Leaf eating, bud eating, Spray contact insecticides,
Seed eating.
Diseases Major diseases are given below.
Verticilium wilt and head rot (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum)
Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a major pathogen of sunflower infecting roots, stems and
flower heads to cause root rot, wilt, stalk and head rot.
Control:Effectivecontrolof canbe achievedbycombined cultural (crop rotation, wider
rowspacing),biological(inoculation) andgenetically(useof resistantvarieties/hybrid)s.

4. Charcoal rot (Macrophomina phaseolina)
Charcoal rotisgenerally confinedtothe warmerregionswhere sunflowerissubjected to
hightemperaturesandlow moisture.Symptomsincludepre-maturedrying,discoloration
of stemfromgrey to black, shredding of tissue at the basal stem. Affected stems are
largely hollow and rotted symptoms are not apparent before flowering.
Control: Since charcoalrotisassociatedwithmoisturestress and high temperatures,
therefore,anypractice thatreducesexposureof plants to these conditions will reduce
loss.However, it can be managed by early planting, using early maturing hybrids and
frequent irrigation
Rhizopus head rot (Rhizopus arrhizus).
Rhizopusheadrotisasporadicdisease andisprevalent during wet weather, especially
whenheadsare predisposedtoinfectionfrommechanicalinjurybybirds,insects or hail.
Susceptibilityof the headsincreaseswiththeage.The fungusinvadesseedsandreduces
viability. It can be controlled chemically.
Harvesting and
Threshing
Inmanual harvestingthe harvested heads are sun dried by placing on sunlight for 3-4
days to reduce the moisture and are threshed with the help of threshers
Drying and
Storage For storage 9.5 % moisture is considered suitable
TIP for
OBTAINING
HIGHER YIELDS
Seed yield produced by sunflower depends upon optimum cultural practices. These
practices includes:
- Fertilizer according to soil test
- Preparation of adequate seed bed
- Select suitable hybrids best suited to your climatic conditions.
- Plant at the optimum time
- Effective control measures against weeds, insects and diseases.
- Harvest at optimum time
- Storage of seed at proper seed moisture level
Yield 30 mds per acre