Sunflower Cultural Practices in Turkey

8/10/2019 Sunflower Cultural Practices in Turkey

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/sunflower-cultural-practices-in-turkey 1/7

Sunflower Cultural Practices In TurkeyABSTRACT

Sunflower is the most important oil crop in Turkey. Turkish people prefer firstly sunflower oil inthe vegetable oil market. The over 75% of sunflower production areas are in Trakya Regionwhich is European part of Turkey. Sunflower growers use mainly hybrids in the production andthe seed quantity is about 4 kg ha -1. The pneumatic planters are used mostly by sunflowerfarmers. The plant density is 70 x 35 cm and the plant population is 40-45.000 plants per ha. The

planting date usually is between the end of March and the beginning of May depending on yearsand regions. The trifluarin herbicides are used mostly in the weed control in sunflower

production. However, Imidazolinones (IMI) herbicides started to use widely (expected about25% of production in 2005) in IMI resistant hybrids in the last years. The composed fertilizers(mostly 20-20-0) are applying only during the planting as mostly 50 kg ha -1 nitrogen and 50 kgha -1 phosphorus rate. The harvesting time is in between August 15 - September 15 depending on

climatic conditions. Sunflower producers sell their products to Trakya Birlik Farmer Association(over 50%) and other private processor companies. In recent years, the sunflower area in Turkeyhas been reduced due to low and variable prices and increased competition from alternatesummer crops.

Key Words: Sunflower, Production, Growing Techniques, Turkey.

INTRODUCTION

Sunflower ( Helianthus annuus L.) is growing mainly for oil production and for confectionery inTurkey. However, the uses for birdseed production, for ornamental purposes both in gardens and

cutting flowers, for livestock use as meal and silage are very common in Turkey and the world.The preference of Turkish people mostly sunflower oil as vegetable oil and the being main cropsin the rotation system in Trakya Region which has more sunflower production increase theimportance of sunflower year by year in Turkey.

Turkey sunflower production is 800 – 850.000 M Ton and planted areas are 450-500.000 hadepending on climatic conditions and sunflower price in recent years. Turkey which has 3% ratioof sunflower production is in the first ten countries in the world (Kaya, 2003a). However, Turkeysunflower production is not enough for domestic uses. Therefore, the half of Turkey oil need issupplied by imported from some countries such as Ukraine, Argentina, Bulgaria, Romania etc…

The majority of sunflower areas (75%) are in Trakya Region which is European part ofTurkey. Sunflower also exists in South Marmara (10%) and Black Sea Regions (10%) in therotation systems in Turkey. Although sunflower high could be planted in different regions due tohaving high adaptation capability and high mechanization uses; sunflower could not produce inlarge areas due to getting low income and could not compete with other more profitable cropssuch as wheat, corn, soybean, cotton etc… in both dry and irrigated conditions in Turkey (Kaya,2003b).



CULTURAL PRACTICES IN TURKEY SUNFLOWER PRODUCTION

Sunflower ( Helianthus annuus L.) is well adapted to Turkey conditions. Sunflowersgenerally grow best on well drained soils, are tolerant of clay loam or silty clay loam soils and

perform comparatively well on sandy loam soils. Sunflower is cultivating mainly under dry

conditions in Turkey. Sunflowers are efficient at extracting water from the soil profile, especiallyin sandy loam soils, and can often tolerate drier conditions better than other crops. Sunflowerneeds 2600 - 2850 °C total temperature during vegetation period (between 100 - 150 days).

Planting

Sunflower is a broadleaf plant that emerges from the soil with two large cotyledons. Plantemergence will take 5-6 days when planted 3-4 cm deep in warm soil, but will take a few dayslonger in cooler soils or when planted deeper. Soil crusting can make it difficult for the largeseedlings to push out of the soil especially in heavy clay soils and after heavy rains. Sunflowersshould not be planted 6-7 cm deep. The seedbed should be prepared so that it is moist and firm

with the surface rough enough to minimize soil drifting. A firm seedbed is desirable so that seeds planted at shallow depths in cool soils obtain adequate moisture for rapid and even emergence.The most efficient and economic method for soil preparation before planting is determined byresearchers as the ploughing in the fall, then cultivating and harrow in the spring. The pneumatic

planters are used mostly by sunflower farmers in Turkey.

Row spacing is mostly 70 x 35 cm in Turkey to allow mechanization for weed controland other cultural applications. Sunflowers are not particularly sensitive to seeding rate, sincehead size (and seed number) per plant will increase in a thinner stand. Seeding rates can be from40 - 45.000 per ha. Sunflower seeds vary in size, so seeding rate based on weight must take intoaccount seed size, but will be roughly about 4 kg ha -1. Sunflower seed are selling by number in

seed packages mostly 10 kg bags by seed companies in Turkey. Number 1 sunflower seeds arelargest, while number 5 are smallest. Most sunflower seed available is sized as a 2 or 3.

Planting sunflower could be anytime after soils have warmed to 10 degrees °C from midMarch through last week of May. Seed germination is starting at 4-5 degrees °C in sunflower.However, the planting date usually is between the end of March and the beginning of Maydepending on years and regions in Turkey. Soil temperatures should be 10 degrees °C or abovewhen the seed is planted. This will probably occur in the end of March or early April. Theseedling sunflower plant will tolerate lower temperatures but plant growth is very slow.Sunflower plants are generally resistant to frost before the six-leaf stage and become

progressively more susceptible as the plant ages. However, the degree of frost resistance dependson the temperature and the duration of exposure. Seedlings may be able to withstandtemperatures of up to -4 °C for short periods. Tolerance to cold and high temperaturescontributes to sunflower adaptation in different environments.

Variety Selection

Hybrid cultivars having high yield performance, uniformity and resistance to pest anddiseases are preferred mainly by sunflower farmers in both Turkey and the world. In today,



hybrids are used in more than 90% of sunflower production areas in Turkey. Almost allcommercial varieties of sunflowers are hybrids, so new seed should be purchased each year.Commercial sunflowers have flowers that are self-compatible for pollination, meaning they donot require a pollinating insect, although some studies have shown bee pollinators providing aslight yield boost. Sunflower hybrid seed production plots require an average of one bee for each

4 – 10 heads for effective pollination.

Most major seed companies have several varieties of sunflower available. Because ofserious broomrape parasite ( Orobanche cernua L.) infestation in more areas of Trakya Regionwhich is European part of Turkey, sunflower hybrids are selling in three groups: resistant (25%),IMI herbicide resistant (25%) and susceptible or tolerant hybrids (25%). Pioneer has only oneresistant hybrid (XF-4223) and is the 2 nd biggest private seed company in the sunflower seedsector. Imidazolinone (IMI) herbicide resistant hybrid planted areas were increasing in the recentyears. Sanay by Syngenta Seed Co., Technosol by Monsanto Seed Co. and Rimisol Genc SeedCo. that IMI resistant hybrids are very efficient solution in problem areas both for broomrape andweed will be sold in the market in 2005. Additionally, broomrape susceptible sunflower hybrid

having high yield potential could be chosen in uninfected areas in Trakya region and other partsof Turkey.

Regardless of whether they are grown as a single crop or double crop, sunflowers shouldnot be planted in the same field more than once every two to three years. Sunflowers do notleave very much residues, so on erosive fields consider seeding a fall cover crop aftersunflowers.

Fertility

Sunflower has modest fertility needs, but does respond to nitrogen. P and K should be

applied based on soil test recommendation. On sandy soils, sunflower is often responsive to extra potassium fertilizer. However, K fertilizers do not apply usually in sunflower production due torich K content in Turkey soils except recommendation after soil test. Sunflower appears tolerantof soils with a pH down to 5.5, but considers liming if the pH is below 6.0, to improve nutrientavailability in the soil. Starter fertilizer for sunflower will usually be beneficial only in cool soilsof early spring and should not be placed in direct contact with the seed.

The composed fertilizers (mostly 20-20-0) are applying only during or before the plantingas mostly 50 kg ha -1 nitrogen and 50 kg ha -1 phosphorus rate by farmers in Turkey. However,fertilizer recommendations are 70-80 kg ha -1 both for nitrogen and phosphorus and one timeapplication before or during planting by the researchers depend on soil fertility for optimumyield. Because of higher uses of K by sunflower, if the soil tests recommend K fertilizer, thecomposed fertilizers should be as 15-15-15 formula. Nitrogen could be given as Urea (46% N)and Ammonium Nitrate (26% and 33% N) and Sulfate (21% N). These rates should be increaseda little bite more and Nitrogen should be divided two as in the planting and before hoeing in theirrigated conditions. Farmer should check also fertilizer costs as pure nutrient component beforeapplication.



Weed Control

One of the real advantages of sunflower is that its vigorous growth and robust size make

it very competitive with most weeds. However, weeds must not be allowed to get a head start onsunflower. Weeds can be controlled either through herbicides or tillage, but most sunflower producers in Turkey make use of both, applying a pre-plant herbicide and then row cultivatingwhen sunflower plants as 25 - 30 cm with hoeing machine between rows. Additionally, some offarmers are controlling weeds in over rows by hand hoeing too. Some of the pre-emergenceherbicides (mostly trifluarin) are available for sunflower and all of which are primarily grassherbicides with control of some broad leaves.

Some key weed species such as Xanthium strumarium L., Sinapis arvensis L.,Chenopodium album L., Cirsium arvense (L) Scop., Convolvulus arvensis L., Avena spp .,

Datura stramonium , Amaranthus spp . etc. are important problem in sunflower production in

Turkey. Using IMI herbicide and resistant hybrids both controlling weeds and broomrape is soimportant to increase sunflower yield in sunflower in especially broomrape problem areas bothcontrolling key weeds and broomrape will be getting more profit to farmers (Kaya et al. , 2004).For post emergence weed control, Intervix herbicide (Imazamox+Imazapyr (33+15 g/l)) wereregistered by BASF Company for 1,25 l/ha to control both O. cernua and key weeds insunflower production and IMI resistant sunflower hybrid known as CLEARFIELD System ®developed by BASF Co. (Kaya et al., 2004).

Irrigation

Sunflower grows mainly without irrigation in Turkey. Although sunflower water use

varies with the amount of water from the soil and rainfall, it is about 700-800 mm during thegrowing season to grow without water stress in Turkey conditions. This could come as acombination of stored soil water, growing season rainfall, and irrigation. The irrigation is one ofthe most increasing factors on effecting sunflower yield other than fertility, weeds, insects,diseases, etc. This yield increase is with increasing water use about 1000 kg per ha for each 100mm water depend on season (Blamey et al., 1997).

Sunflower yield is most sensitive to water stress just prior to flowering through seeddevelopment. Sunflower is a deep-rooted crop, but will respond to irrigation if properly timedwith the peak water use period of bud formation to petal fall (Blamey et al., 1997). In Turkey,these growth stages occur during June and early July. Single 100 mm irrigation at either bud orfull bloom produces the same yield. Thus waiting until full bloom, if possible, is a moreconservative method to schedule if only one irrigation application is possible or desired. If twoirrigations are made, one should be near early bud stage and the other at full bloom. With asprinkler system, which uses smaller application amounts, irrigation should start just prior to budformation and if sufficient water is available, continued until petal drop unless there is adequaterainfall. On sandy soils, irrigation normally will be needed earlier and more frequently.

Pest and Diseases



Broomrape ( Orobanche cernua Loeffl.) is the most important problem in the sunflower production in Turkey. Additionally, head rot problems are determined frequently such as Rhizopus spp. , Botrytis spp. and Sclerotinia spp. and also Macrophomina spp. as stalk rot inrecent years. Head rot diseases caused economic loss was observed most summers following rain

periods in last two years. There is no any common insect damaging economically in Turkey

sunflower production. All commercial seeds were treated with Metalaxyl to protect againstsunflower mildew.

Broomrape made epidemic each 20 years (1960, 1980, 2000) and broke resistance ofsunflower cultivars in Turkey (Kaya, 2003c). The 80% of sunflower production area is infected

by new races of broomrape in Trakya region. New broomrape races other than known races (A,B, C, D, E) were observed mostly in Spain and Turkey but also Bulgaria and Ukraine rarely.However Turkish F race is more virulent than other countries and there are additionally probablyone or two more races than known in the region. Although some resistant and tolerant sunflowerhybrids are planted, these cultivars could have susceptibility after a couple years due to highvirulence attack of these new races.

Broomrape was controlling effectively using resistant and tolerant hybrids as geneticallyand using IMI resistant hybrids and IMI herbicide as chemically in Turkey. INTERVIXherbicide controlling some weeds and broomrape were used by farmers without any problem inrecent seasons. The best time to control both broomrape and weeds 6-8 leaf stages in thesunflower plant using IMI herbicide (Kaya et al., 2004). Another solution for broomrape controlchemically is OROBAN herbicide (Imazaphyr) application as post emergence in plantingsusceptible hybrids. However, the best solution for broomrape is the use of genetically resistantsunflower cultivars due to extra cost and time of herbicide application.

Harvest

Sunflower yield is about 1500-1800 kg ha -1 in Turkey in recent years. However 2500-3000 kg ha -1 seed yield could be obtained on dryland when enough rainfall and 3500-5000 kg ha -

1 in irrigated conditions in normal soils. Sunflower seeds are generally physiologically maturewhen 10% of the heads have turned brown. When the head turns brown on the back, seeds areusually ready for harvest. This occurs at about four to five months (about five weeks afterflowering), depending on variety. At this stage the moisture content is around 35-40%.Harvesting can commence when the seed is at 13% moisture but the optimum is under 10%. Thetime for harvest is about in September in Turkey.

Combine settings must be adjusted for sunflower very carefully, because dirty seed production is one of the biggest complaints by Turkish oil processor companies. Airspeed should be lower, due to the lighter weight of sunflowers and the concave should generally be run wideopen. The overall goal of the threshing process should be passing the head through nearly intactthrough the combine, or in a few large pieces, with all developed seed removed from the head.

Storage



During colder periods, sunflower can be safely stored at 10% moisture or less, but duringwarmer months the storage moisture should be at 8% or less. Higher moisture content onsunflower seed could be decayed and heated easily because of being oil crops. Sunflower dryinghas a higher risk of fire hazard than some crops. The primary problem is that small fibers rub offthe sunflower hulls and float in the air, and these fibers readily burn.

Marketing

Trakya Birlik, farmer cooperative for oil crops but mostly sunflower, was the biggest buyer for sunflower seed in the sector activated in Trakya, Marmara, Aegean and MiddleAnatolia regions. Trakya Birlik are buying almost over 50% of sunflower production and usesome parts of products in its oil processing and sunflower cake factories and sold other thanneeds to other private oil processors. Another oil crop farmer cooperative, Karadeniz Birlik,activated in mainly in the Black Sea region, Middle and Eastern Anatolia regions followed itrespectively in the oil seed sector. However, almost over 30% of seed production was bought by

private oil factories located mainly in Trakya Region and other different cities in Turkey (Kaya

et al., 2000).

All sunflower production in Turkey is linoleic type and not high or mid oleic types. Thereis no contract between farmers and oil processors and there is no buying according to oil contentand no premium for higher oil content also.

CONCLUSIONS

Sunflower has high planting potential in Turkey due to high mechanization use, largeadaptation capability and easy marketing. There is no more common problem on sunflower

production in Turkey except lower prices in the recent years. Sunflower planted areas and

production was decreasing in the last years due to low prices mainly both in Turkey and theworld. Sunflower could not compete with wheat and other crops in the rotation system evenunder dry conditions due to low profit. Turkey is importing each year almost the same amountsunflower or other oil crops for domestic need of vegetable oil.

LITERATURE

Blamey, F. P. C., R. K. Zollinger and A. A. Schneiter 1997. Sunflower Production and Culture.In A. A. Schneiter (ed.) Sunflower Technology and Production. Agron. Monogr. 35.ASA, CSSA and SSSA, Madison, WI, USA. 595-670.

Kaya, Y. and A. S. Tan H. G. Kaya. 2000. Sunflower Production and its Future Strategies ofTurkey in 2001-2005. Turkey 8 th Five-Year Developing Plan 2001 - 2005. The StatePlanning Organization. ANKARA. 164-208.

Kaya, Y. 2003a. Sunflower Production Techniques. Istanbul Agriculture Magazine. 84:

24-25.



Kaya, Y. 2003b. The problems and solution suggestions of oil sunflower production in

Turkey. CINE TARIM Magazine. 5: 43. 34-35.

Kaya, Y. 2003c. Orobanche Parasite and Control Methods in Sunflower. Istanbul

Agriculture Magazine. 84: 26-28.

Kaya, Y., G. Evci and M. Demirci. 2004. Broomrape ( Orobanche cernua Loeffl.) and

Herbicide Resistance Breeding in Sunflower ( Helianthus annuus L.) in Turkey. Helia. 27:40. 199-210.

http://arastirma.tarim.gov.tr/ttae/Sayfalar/EN/Detay.aspx?SayfaId=142

Sunflower Cultural Practices in Turkey

Documents

Transcript of Sunflower Cultural Practices in Turkey