Performance of Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) Under a Moringa-based Agroforestry System

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is a widely cultivated oilseed crop with considerable economic importance due to its diverse industrial and nutritional applications. This study evaluated the growth performance, yield, and economic feasibility of sunflower cultivated under a Moringa (Moringa oleifera L.)-based agroforestry system at different distances from the base of the tree. This experiment was conducted with four treatments–sunflower cultivation was arranged at planted at 50 (D₁), 100 (D₂), 150 (D₃) cm away from the base of moringa trees, and an open-field control (D₄) and a randomized complete block design (RCBD) was employed for the experimental layout. All measured growth attributes of sunflower, including plant size, canopy coverage, total biomass, and stem girth, showed a significant decline as plants were positioned closer to the Moringa trees, primarily due to increased shading and below-ground competition. The highest seed yield (3.17 t ha^-1) was obtained under open-field  condition, while a yield of 2.73 t ha^-1 was observed at 50cm (D₃) produced a yield statistically similar to the control treatment, suggesting that competitive effects were minimized at wider spacing. Economic assessment were further indicated that agroforestry-based intercropping substantially improved profitability, with the highest net return (Tk. 787600 ha^-1) and benefit-cost ratio (6.5) achieved under the D₃ treatment, largely due to the combined income from sunflower and Moringa pod production. Although sole sunflower yielded more, intercropping with moringa at 150 cm optimized land-use efficiency and overall profitability. Thus, the study concludes that moringa-sunflower based agroforestry, particularly with 150 cm spacing, is a sustainable production system in Bangladesh.

Keywords: Sunflower; Moringa; Yield; Gross return; Benefit cost ratio