Development of best management practices for maximum economic yield of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

A field experiment was carried out during spring, 2013-2016 at T.C.A, Dholi, Muzaffarpur (Bihar) to study the development of best management practices for maximum economic yield of sunflower. The experiment was laid out in Split plot design with 3 replications. The treatment comprised 2 (main) x 3 x 3 (Sub) of 18 nutritional combinations. The treatments constituted viz., Organic levels O1- No Organics, O2- 5 t Compost/ha, Plant populations P1- 60 cm x 30 cm (55555 plant/ha), P2- 60 cm x 45 cm (37037 plant/ha), P3- 60 cm x 22.5cm (74074 plant/ha), Fertilizer levels F1-100% NPK+S+ Limiting micro-nutrients, F2-F1 +25% higher NPK, F3-F1 + 33% higher NPK. The study revealed that significantly higher yield (q/ha) observed among the organic levels is O2-5 t Compost i.e. 1925 kg/ha, among the plant populations (P3) 1946 kg/ha and among the Fertilizer levels (F3) 1927 kg/ha. In gross and net returns also follows similar trend and in B: C ratio also follows similar trend except in organic levels, in this O1 recorded maximum B: C ratio.