Preparation of Soil
Sunflower adapts relatively well to a wide variety of soil types. Traditionally, sunflower cultivation has been limited to soils where the clay percentage varies between 15 and 55 %, In other words sandy loam to clay soil types. At present the major planting areas are in soils with a clay percentage of less than 20 %.
Well drained sandy loams, black soils and alluvial soils are suitable. Water logged areas should be avoided.
Primary cultivations, such as ploughing with a mouldboard plough or chisel plough, are suitable. The following characteristics of soils will limit successful sunflower production and should be avoided: Sunflower is very sensitive to wind damage in the seedling stage and for this reason, cultivation on light-textured soils susceptible to wind erosion, should be avoided unless wind erosion is being combated successfully. Sunflower is very sensitive to waterlogging. Sunflower is very sensitive to high aluminium levels and should not be planted in soils with a pH lower than 4,6.
Sowing
Normally sunflower can be planted from the beginning of November until the end of December in the eastern areas and until mid-January in the western areas,
Seed rate: Rainfed: 2.5 kg/acre Irrigated: 2 kg/acre Maintain a single seedling/hill at 10-15 days after germination. Spacing: 45 x 30 cms for light soils and 60 x 30 cm for heavy soils. Sowing time: Rainfed: September – 1st fortnight of October Irrigated: November
Summer: 15th January to 1st week of February Supplemental Pollination: Effective pollination can be achieved by maintaining two bee hives/acre. Supplemental hand pollination on alternate days preferably in morning hours for 2 weeks should be done wherever bee activity is low.
Read more at : http://www.nuziveeduseeds.com/sunflower-how-to-grow/
No comments:
Post a Comment