Abstract

Sunflower (Helianthus annus L.) is a warm-season crop with the potential to add high value to diversified farms in the Northeast as a rotation crop, an on-farm fuel production source, and an added-value retail crop. Production of high-yielding sunflower crops is highly influenced by plant population and adequate nitrogen (N). Applying excessive N to sunflower can have detrimental effects to the crop and environment as well as decreasing profits for farmers. Sunflower populations can also have a significant impact on yield and quality. In Vermont where a more temperate climate prevails, higher plant populations may be advantageous compared to the more arid sunflower-growing regions in the U.S. Plains. As target populations increase, N application recommendations generally increase as well. With the need for regionally-specific recommendations, the University of Vermont Northwest Crops & Soils Program has initiated a yearly study since 2010 to determine the effects of target population and N application rate on plant stand characteristics, pest damage, and seed and oil yields of sunflower. The following are results from the 2012 study.

Keywords

Vermont, University of Vermont

Publication Date

2012

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