Make More Money Grow Sunflower

Make More Money Grow SunFlower

INTRODUCTION

Sunflower can be grown as a cash crop and is used to make cooking oils, animal feeds
and soaps. Sunflower will grow well where maize and beans are grown. A good crop
requires 450 mm of rainfall.

VARIETIES

The following varieties have been tested in research stations in various areas of Kenya.
Most of these varieties are grown by farmers in Bungoma, Kakamega and Meru. It is
important to consider yield and oil content. Oil is the most important end product for use
or sale.

Days to %011
Variety Yield in 5OKg Bags / Acre
Maturity Content

H-008 104 18 43
H-893 114 23 42
H894 110 21 38
H-8938 101 21 44
H-8998 116 22 43
H-001 97 12 41
H-898 107 14 39
KENSUN 22 96 14 37
KENSUN 33 107 19 39
SUPER 400 105 24 39
KENYA 120 23 39
FEDHA
KENYA 110 19 38
SHABA
REKORD 121 23 40

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The seeds of Kenya Fedha, Kenya Shaba and Rekord can be used for 2 to 3 seasons. It
is not recommended to use the seeds of hybrid varieties more than once as the yields
will be lower.

You should buy fresh seed of hybrids every season. Sunflower needs good fertilization.
Use DAP (60 kg per acre) or 3 tonnes per acre of well rotted farmyard manure or
compost, applied 2 to 3 weeks before sowing. Mix fertilizer properly with soil before
planting to avoid damaging the seeds, which leads to poor emergence. Seeds can be
obtained from KFA, Kenya Seed Company Ltd, Oil Crops Development Ltd, Western
Seed Company Ltd and Hortitec.

PLANTING

Plant seeds manually or use a maize planter. The distance between rows is 21/2 feet
and the distance between plant holes is 1 foot. Seed rate varies from 2 to 4 kg/acre.
Plant 3 to 5 seeds per hole at a depth of 1 to 2 inches. Use the lower seed rate for
certified hybrids when water is sufficient. Use a higher seed rate when using your own
seeds. Farmers using their own seeds should plant medium to big seeds. Plant after the
onset of the rains.

WEEDING / THINNING

Keep the crop weed free 4 to 6 weeks after planting. One month after planting, after
weeding and when the soil is wet, thin to 1 plant per hole. If labour is a constraint you
can use herbicides before planting such as Eptam, Lasso and Stomp for weed control.

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PESTS

PEST NATURE OF DEMAGE CONTROL METHODS

Cut young plants at

Cutworms ground level and kill Use Thiodan 35% EC 1.51/ha.
them
Are caterpillars that eat Use permethrin Cypermethrin,
Semiloopers
leaves. Thiodan or Diptrex.
African Eat leaves and attack the Use Diptrex 95% SP 1.3 Kg/ha
bollworms head or Cypermethrin 11/ha.

BIRDS

Birds eat seeds and cause big losses. Uise bird scaring devices.

Try and plant your sunflower the same time as other farmers to minimize bird damage.

DISEASES

DISEASE NATURE OF DAMAGE CONTROL METHODS

Attack roots, stem and Crop rotation.

SCLEROTINIAWILT head. Infected parts shrink Use certified seeds. Burn
and rot. infected plants.
Use crop rotation.
Loose white parts on the Use certified seeds. Apply
DOWNY MILDEW
lower surface of leaves. Ridomil to young
plants.
Stems appear black at the
bottom and inside part of Crop rotation.
CHARCOALROT
the Use certified seeds.
stem is torn.

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HARVESTING

Hand harvesting is done when the heads turn deep yellow. Cut the head, spike it upside
down on the stalk or thresh and sun-dry. This prevents rotting and bird damage. Don't
waii ti 'II the leaves dry up to reduce bird damage.

Compiled by
WM Thagana & TC Riungu
KARI Headquarters Library
resource.center@kari.org
KARI/NJORO PO NJORO