Farmers of our country are turning towards commercial farming to increase their income along with traditional agriculture. Speaking in this context, farmer brothers can earn good profit and profits from sunflower cultivation. Sunflower is an oilseed crop, and the oil extracted from its seeds can give better profits. Sunflower is also known as a cash crop in India. Also, in terms of the changing climate in the country and the rising prices of oilseed crops, farmers can earn a good profit from sunflower cultivation.
Medicinal Properties Of Sunflower
Sunflower seeds are rich in various medicinal properties, the consumption of which is considered beneficial for health. Sunflower seeds contain calcium, vitamins, protein, and many other nutrients. They protect the body from many diseases. Sunflower seeds work to keep your heart healthy. Not only this, using its oil and seeds also protects you from deadly diseases like cancer. Apart from this, consuming sunflower oil also keeps the liver healthy. It is also beneficial in preventing bone diseases like osteoporosis. Sunflower also reduces the amount of cholesterol in your body, which makes it easier to keep your heart healthy, and the risk of heart attack is also reduced by consuming its oil. Along with this, using its oil improves your skin and also strengthens hair.
Sunflower Cultivation Essentials Explained
This blog post will explain the complete guide for sunflower cultivation with harvesting and yield. Let’s have a look at the process of sunflower farming.
Sunflower Cultivation Season
Sunflowers can be cultivated three times a year in Rabi, Kharif and Zaid seasons. For sowing sunflowers in the Zaid season, it is best to sow from February to mid-March, while sowing it in the Zaid season. Moreover, the distance between row to row is 4 to 5 cm, and the distance from one plant to another is 25 to 30 cm. However, farmers prefer to use any New Holland tractor for sunflower cultivation as the New Holland tractor price is reasonable.
Suitable Climate For Sunflower Cultivation
For sunflower cultivation, there should be a dry climate. A temperature of up to 15 degrees is suitable for its sowing, and the pH value of the field’s soil should be between 5 and 7 for its cultivation. For the germination of its seeds, a high temperature is required, and for the growth of its plant, a normal temperature is required.
Sunflower Cultivation Field Preparation
Sunflowers can be grown on any land. Moreover, fields with good drainage are suitable for their cultivation. For sunflower cultivation, the area’s soil should be tested so that manure, fertilisers, and seeds can be used per the ground requirements. Firstly, deep ploughing of the field 2 to 3 times with the help of a plough operated by a Sonalika tractor as the Sonalika tractor price is reasonable. After that, leave the field empty for a few days so exposure to sunlight in the area reduces the insects in the field. After this, plough the field 2 to 3 times with the help of a rotavator to make the soil loose and level the field by applying a patch in the area. Also, irrigating the field by setting a bridge is easy.
Sunflower Cultivation Sowing Method
Sunflower is an evergreen crop that can be sown in all three seasons: Rabi, Kharif and Zaid. Its seeds can be planted by the spraying method. But sunflower seeds should be sown by row method only so that there is an ease in crop management. For this, the distance between the lines should be 4 to 5 cm, and between one plant and another should be 25 to 30 cm.
Manure And Fertiliser In Sunflower Cultivation
Add rotten cow dung at 7 to 8 tons per acre when ploughing the field before sowing sunflower. For a good yield, urea 130 to 160 kg, SSP 375 kg and Potash 66 kg per acre in irrigated condition. Use 2/3 of the quantity of Nitrogen and the entire amount of Sulphur and Potash when sowing in sunflower cultivation. And 1/3 quantity of Nitrogen should be given to the standing crop at the time of first irrigation of the field after 30 to 35 days of sowing.
Irrigation Management In Sunflower Cultivation
Sunflower crop sown in Zaid (February-March) requires 3 to 4 irrigations. Do first irrigation 30 to 35 days after sowing, and use 1/3 quantity of Nitrogen after first irrigation. After this, keep on watering it at an interval of 25 to 30 days.
Harvesting Of Sunflower
Harvest the sunflower crop at the time when the back part of the flower turns yellow like a lemon, and it starts falling. Then, its yield should be considered ready for harvesting. In this condition, cut the flower and leave it to dry in the open for 3 to 4 days. After drying the flower in sunflower cultivation, its seeds should be taken out by beating it with sticks. Moreover, its one-acre crop can yield up to 8 to 10 quintals.
Sunflower Post Harvesting
After the seeds are removed from the crop in sunflower cultivation, they should be dried thoroughly. The moisture in the seed should not be more than 8 to 10 per cent. Oil should be extracted from sunflower seeds within 3 months; otherwise, the oil becomes bitter.
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