Productivity and Profitability of Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) under Different Straw Management Options in Rice Fallows

A fixed field plot experiment was carried out for two consecutive rabi seasons of 2022-23 and 2023-24 at Agriculture Research Station, Tornala, Telangana, India to evaluate various rice residue management options on the performance and economics of sunflower grown after dry direct sown rice. Plant height and dry matter production at different growth stages and yield attributes and yield per hectare were consistently and significantly superior in the treatments where incorporation of rice straw was done 15 days prior to planting duly adjusting C: N and C: N: P ratio of straw by adding part of recommended nitrogen and phosphorus, and both of which were on par with each other. The performance of zero till sunflower along with straw retention and application recommended doses of fertilizers after dry direct sown rice was also on par with the C: N and C: N: P adjusted straw incorporation treatments during the second year of study. Mean seed and stalk yield, harvest index, net returns and B: C ratio were superior with incorporation of C: N: P and C: N ratio adjusted straw treatments and zero till sunflower treatments when compared to straw burning, straw incorporation as such, straw removal and incorporation of C: P ratio adjusted straw treatments.