Response of sunflower to sulphur and sulphur oxidizing biofertilizer

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus), which used to be an ornamental plants in India, has in recent times become an important source of edible oil. Globally, sunflower ranks second to soybean among annual field crops grown for edible oil.It was introduced to India in 1969 as an oil seed crop. Since it is a photo-insensitive crop, it can be grown throughout the year. Our country is facing acute shortage of edible oils mainly because of heavy demand due to population pressure, raised standard of living and high demand from oil consuming industries. The demand is partly meet by home production of oil seed crop and partly by import of edible oils. Under such situation it needs to build up self sufficiency in oil production to meet the increasing demand of consumers. Sunflower is one of the potential oil seed crops which can meet to the situation.