When should I cut sunflower heads and how do I dry the seed properly to avoid spoilage in Telangana?
How do I know sunflower is ready to harvest and how do I dry the seed (sunflower)?
KKrishna Mohan5 महीने पहले · 196 व्यू
6 जवाब
🌾Farmer.in Krishi Teamविशेषज्ञ ✓5 महीने पहले
Sunflower is ready when the back of the head turns from green to yellow and then brown, the outer ray petals dry and fall, and the seeds in the head are firm and well coloured. Harvesting too early gives chaffy light seed with low oil, so wait for proper maturity but not so long that birds and shattering take the seed. Cut the heads, then dry them in thin layers in the sun until the seed moisture is low enough for safe storage before threshing. After threshing, clean and dry the seed further and store it dry, because oilseeds spoil and lose oil quality if stored damp. Bird damage near maturity is common, so plan to harvest promptly. Confirm safe storage moisture for oilseed with your local KVK.
SSrinivas Goud5 महीने पहले
The back of the head turning brown and the petals drying off is my main sign. I check that the seeds are firm and have their proper colour before cutting. Going by the front of the flower alone fooled me once, the back of the head is the better guide for maturity.
YYadagiri4 महीने पहले
Birds were taking a big share of my crop as it ripened. I started harvesting promptly once the heads were mature instead of leaving them standing, and in bad bird pressure years some of us put up scare devices and watch the field near maturity. Do not leave a ripe sunflower crop standing for long.
MMallesham4 महीने पहले
Drying the cut heads in thin layers, not thick heaps, was the key for me to avoid mould. Thick piling traps moisture in the middle. After threshing I dry the seed a bit more and store it properly dry, because oilseed kept damp loses oil quality fast. Confirm the safe storage moisture with your KVK.
NNarsimha3 महीने पहले
Threshing the dried heads gently was a lesson for me, because beating them too hard cracked the seed and the trader cut the rate for broken kernels. I rub or tap the heads over a sheet so the seed comes out clean and whole. Clean, unbroken, properly dried seed always fetched me a better rate.
RRamulu3 महीने पहले
Cleaning and grading the threshed seed before selling got me a better rate, because the trader cut for chaff and broken kernels mixed in. After threshing I winnow out the light empty seed and the bits, then dry it down before bagging. Clean dry well filled seed always sold better than a chaffy lot.