COMMON SUNFLOWER (Heoianthus annuus L.)

Importance and seed composition:

The following forms of sunflower have been gradually bred::

1.    seed forms

-         oil type – medium-sized achenes and thin hulls, two subtypes:

-         traditional – high content of essential linoleic acid (75-80 % of oil)

-         oleic – high content of oleic acid (about 80 % of oil)

-         confectionery type – large achens, thick hull, lower amount of oil, higher amounts of carbohydrates and protein

2.    silage form – the significance of sunflower as fodder crop is not great in this country. Silage digestibility is low and cattle do not like to eat it. Therefore it is better to include sunflower in mixtures with corn or legumes

3.    ornamental forms

-         ornamental types

-         double-flowered types

Seeds of oil type sunflower that is the most common in this country, contain 30-45% fat. Crude protein content is relatively high (16-20%), crude fibre is also high (about 24%). Nitrogen-free extract is low (only 7-10%). Mineral content is 2-3%, the highest contents are those of phosphorus, potassium and magnesium; calcium content is low.

Except the main product, oil, also oil cake and extracted meals are used for the manufacturing of compound feeds. Cake from unhusked sunflower is not suitable for monogastric animals and young animals due to a high fibre content. Husked sunflower cake is a valuable protein feed with an excellent digestibility of crude protein, but due to a high cost of husking it is expensive.

 Cultivation requirements:

Sunflower belongs to thermophilic and drought resistant crops. It requires deep, humous, structural loamy sand and sandy loam soils, preferably of chernozem type. There are no special requirements for the position if crop patter, it is usually placed between two cereals. Sunflower is not a good previous crop because it exhausts soil considerably. The interval between two sunflower cultivations in one field should not be less than 5-7 years for the reason of possible fungal disease transfer.