University Apiary, Rajendra Agricultural University, Pusa-848 125, Samastipur, Bihar, (India).
1A part of approved M.Sc. (Ag.) thesis submitted by Manoj Kumar to the Rajendra Agricultural University, Bihar, Pusa-848125, (India).
The maximum number of bees (9.79 bees/minute/5 capitulum) visited the flowers of sunflower for collection of nectar or pollen or both at nearer distance (10 m) whereas minimum (5.32 bees/minute/5 capitulum) at the farthest distance (500 m) from apiary. The number of filled seed per capitulum decreased as the distance of target crop from apiary increased being maximum (680.9) at 10 m and minimum (457.7) at 500 m. The thousand seed weight was also significantly highest (58.7 g) at the closer distance (10 m) while lowest (40.3 g) at the farthest distance (500 m) from apiary. The seed obtained from farthest distance had less germination (70.75%) as compared to seeds obtained at nearest distance (83.50%).
