Sunflower seeds: types, features of planting and cultivation

High yields of sunflower seeds provide the right choice of soil, type of seeds and cultivation technology. This culture needs to be protected from weeds with herbicides and other means. Let's consider the main types of sunflower, the peculiarities of planting and cultivation.

Types of sunflower seeds

Sunflower seeds differ depending on the properties of the seeds. This affects the utilization of the crop. High oleic sunflower seeds are used for making oil. They are small and the peel does not separate well from the kernel. Confectionery seeds are not as oily, the kernels are large, easily separated from the husk. They are used in food in raw or roasted form, added to baked goods and other confectionery products.

Sunflower varies in maturity:

• Early-ripening variety gives a harvest in 80-90 days after the emergence of seedlings.
• Medium-early sunflower is ready in 90-110 days.
• Medium maturing variety is ready for harvesting in 110-120 days after the emergence of seedlings.
• Late maturing sunflower yields later than 120 days.

Annual sunflower seeds are hybrids. They are suitable for cultivation in different conditions. They have developed resistance to certain diseases, to herbicides and other chemical pest control agents. There are several technologies of treatment against weeds, under which the type of seed is selected:

• Classic sunflower hybrids give a high yield. They are grown on fields where there is a small number of weeds. The soil is treated with herbicides.
• Express treatment with herbicides is carried out after the seeds resistant to this remedy have sprouted.
• Technology of intensive integrated protection of sunflower from weeds and pests.
• Seeds resistant to tribenuron-methyl can be planted on soils with an abundance of dicotyledonous field plants. Thanks to treatment with this substance, weeds of this type are destroyed without harm to the sunflower.

Features of planting and cultivation of sunflower seeds

To ensure a high yield of plants, special attention is paid to the preparation of the soil and the timing of fertilizer application. Before planting sunflower seeds, the following actions are performed:

• After harvesting the previous crop, the soil is cultivated to a depth of 7-10 cm. Sunflower grows well after corn or grain plants. After 14 days, the soil is fertilized.
• Immediately after soil enrichment, the fields are plowed to a depth of about 30 cm.
• In early spring harrow the soil to a depth of 5 cm, apply nitrogen fertilizer and cultivate the soil. Cultivation is repeated in 5-10 days before sowing sunflower seeds.
• Seeds are treated against pests. They are sown into the soil to a depth of 8-10 centimeters, when its temperature reaches 10-12 degrees.
• In 4 days after sowing, herbicides are introduced into the soil. If there are many weeds in the field, after precipitation herbicides are reintroduced.
• If necessary, weeding between the rows is carried out, the soil is regularly perched to increase the oxygen content.
• 6-7 weeks after planting, inter-row cultivation is carried out to a depth of 8-10 cm.
• During the formation of seeds, their moisture content is checked. If the indicator falls to 35-37%, it is necessary to carry out desiccation.
• When grain moisture reaches 15-20%, harvesting is carried out.

Growing sunflowers, it is important to make sure that no fungus or other pests appear. For this purpose, the fields are inspected and the plants are treated in a timely manner with special means of protection.