Determining the Effect of Date of Sowing and Spacing on Forage Yield of Sunflower (Helianthus annus L.)

The present study aimed to determine the effect of date of sowing and spacing on forage yield of sunflower (Helianthus annus L.). A field experiment was conducted at Agronomy Instructional Farm, Chimanbhai Patel College of Agriculture, Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University, Sardarkrushinagar during rabi season of 2020-21 to study the effect of date of sowing and spacing on forage yield of sunflower (Helianthus annus L.). The experiment consisting of twelve treatment combinations comprising four dates of sowing (15th October, 1st November, 15th November, 30th November) and three spacing (15 cm, 30 cm, 45 cm spacing) were evaluated in split plot design with four replications. Results revealed that sowing of forage sunflower crop in the second fortnight of October produced numerically higher green forage yield (677.09 q/ha), dry forage yield (102.40 q/ha), head diameter (15.41 cm) and fibre content (26.13 %).Among the spacings, significantly higher green forage yield (675.08 q/ha) and dry forage yield (103.44 q/ha) were recorded under the 30 cm row spacing as compared to rest of the treatments. A significantly higher head diameter (15.71 cm) was recorded by 45 cm row spacing whereas, fibre content was significantly higher at 15 cm row spacing. The maximum net realization (₹ 90880/ ha) with B:C ratio (3.04) was accrued by the 15th October sowing.