Where is most sunflower grown in Russia?

In 2016, there is an increase in both the sown area and the gross harvest of sunflower seeds in Russia. The trend towards an increase in indicators in the face of an increase in demand for processed products of this type of oilseeds has been observed for a number of years.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation, Rosstat, the sown area of ​​sunflower in Russia in 2016 in farms of all categories amounted to 7,498.8 thousand hectares, which is 7.0% or 493.8 thousand hectares more than was sown in 2015. For comparison, 10 years ago (according to the results of 2006) the area was 6,154.7 thousand hectares, 15 years ago (according to the results of 2001) - 3,827.1 thousand hectares.

By November 1, 2016, sunflower was threshed from an area of ​​6,189.9 thousand hectares or 82.5% of the sown area (in 2015 - 6 142.6 thousand hectares). Threshed 9 810.8 thousand tons (in 2015 - 9 061.8 thousand tons), with a yield of 15.8 c / ha (in 2015 - 14.8 c / ha). The increase in gross collections amounted to 749.0 thousand tons or 8.3%. For comparison, 10 years ago (according to the results of 2006) gross collections amounted to 6,743.4 thousand tons, 15 years ago (according to the results of 2001) - 2,682.2 thousand tons.

Sunflower seed production by region

Important! Data on sunflower seed production by regions of Russia are presented as of November 01, 2016.

Agriculture of the regions of Russia on the AB-Center website

The leader in sunflower seed production as of November 1, 2016 is the Krasnodar Territory (1,090.1 thousand tons, 11.1% of the total harvest). The growth for the year amounted to 57.8 thousand tons or 5.6%.

In the Rostov region, 1,087.0 thousand tons of sunflower seeds were harvested (11.1% of the total harvest). Compared to November 01, 2015, fees increased by 307.1 thousand tons, or 39.4%.

Saratov region ranks third in gross harvests of sunflower seeds as of November 1, 2016 - 1,023.7 thousand tons (10.4% in total collections). During the year, production increased by 69.2 thousand tons or 7.2%.

The Voronezh region is in fourth place in the production of sunflower seeds (782.0 thousand tons, 8.0% in the total collection). Compared to November 01, 2015, gross collections decreased by 181.6 thousand tons, or 18.8%.

In the Samara region, 655.5 thousand tons of sunflower seeds were harvested (6.7% of the total harvest). Over the year, production volumes increased by 32.3 thousand tons or 5.2%.

In the Orenburg region, as of November 1, 2016, 620.2 thousand tons of sunflower seeds were produced (6.3% of the total harvest of this crop in the Russian Federation). The increase for the year amounted to 184.3 thousand tons or 42.3%.

The seventh line in the rating of regions in terms of gross harvests of sunflower seeds is occupied by the Volgograd region (618.8 thousand tons, 6.3% in the total production of sunflower seeds in Russia). In the region for the year there is a decrease in collections by 97.3 thousand tons or 13.6%.

In the Stavropol Territory, as of November 1, 2016, the collection reached 532.8 thousand tons (5.4% of the total collection).Compared to the same date in 2015, production increased by 125.2 thousand tons or 30.7%.

The Tambov region is in 9th place in terms of gross harvests of sunflower seeds (511.3 thousand tons, 5.2% of the total production). During the year in the region there was a decrease in production by 230.6 thousand tons or 31.1%.

The Belgorod Region closes the top ten leading regions in terms of gross harvests of sunflower seeds as of November 01, 2016. The collection there amounted to 341.1 thousand tons (3.5% of the total production of this crop in the Russian Federation). Over the year, collections increased by 49.3 thousand tons, or 16.9%.

IN TOP-20 key regions in terms of gross harvest of sunflower seeds as of November 01, 2016 includes:

• 11. Kursk region (collected 319.7 thousand tons, the share in the total volume of collections - 3.3%).
• 12. Altai Territory (318.2 thousand tons, 3.2%).
• 13. Penza region (315.1 thousand tons, 3.2%).
• 14. Lipetsk region (308.6 thousand tons, 3.1%).
• 15. Ulyanovsk region (284.2 thousand tons, 2.9%).
• 16. Republic of Bashkortostan (223.5 thousand tons, 2.3%).
• 17. Republic of Crimea (161.5 thousand tons, 1.6%).
• 18. Republic of Tatarstan (137.8 thousand tons, 1.4%).
• 19. Oryol region (105.0 thousand tons, 1.1%).
• 20. Republic of Adygea (92.2 thousand tons, 0.9%).

The production of sunflower seeds as of November 1, 2016 in farms of all categories in the regions not included in the TOP-20 amounted to 282.5 thousand tons (2.9% in the total production of sunflower seeds in Russia).

My name is Ivan Rogozin. I have lived all my life in the city of Krasnodar. Despite my urban life, I just adore agriculture, so I connected my life with growing sunflower.

The fields of the Krasnodar Territory turned out to be very fertile. Within a few years, the business began to bring good results in the form of profit. Gradually, I increased the area for sowing and today I have about 30 hectares of land at my disposal.

The total yield is about 600 centners.
Net profit - from 300 thousand rubles.
The total profitability is from 270%.
There is also an additional income - the sale of fried sunflower seeds at a price of 70-90 rubles per kilogram. Income from this direction is from 100 thousand rubles.
Initial costs - from 60 thousand rubles.
Staff - 4 people.

As an introduction

Sunflower cultivation is one of the most profitable businesses today. This explains the popularity of growing this crop not only in our country, but also in the world.

Even Peter I became the trendsetter for sunflower, from which butter, soap, margarine and halva were made. A separate conversation is the seeds, without which it is difficult to imagine modern life.

What are the benefits of doing business?

The advantage of sunflower is its simplicity. It feels great in arid climates and under the scorching sun. Sunflower cultivation is very popular in Ukraine, Turkey, Russia and even Argentina.

If we take in Russia, then the ideal conditions for business are in the Stavropol and Krasnodar Territories. The area of ​​land occupied by sunflower is constantly increasing.

It is believed that in a few years about 8 million hectares of land will be occupied by this agricultural crop.

Sunflower is a plant that is resistant to drought and cold. As a result, it is ideally adapted to our climate. The duration of cultivation is only 80-120 days (it all depends on the type of variety and the technology chosen).

Is the business difficult?

The sunflower growing business is very profitable, and the sunflower growing technology is simple and accessible even to a beginner. That is why many farmers prefer to make money on the fruits of this culture. Up to 18-30 centners of the crop can be harvested from one hectare of land.

What should the earth be like?

You must clearly understand the peculiarities of growing sunflower, as well as the importance of high-quality soil. In particular, the land must contain all the necessary mineral and organic fertilizers.

It is possible to sow sunflower in the same place no earlier than in 7-8 years. Otherwise, even black soil is quickly depleted and becomes unsuitable for planting agricultural products. Therefore, the areas for sunflower should be alternated.

It is necessary to prepare the soil for planting in the fall. The harrowing process is carried out from the beginning of spring, and after that pre-sowing cultivation begins.

To protect the plants from the negative impact of harrowing, it is worth trimming the surface of the field before planting the sunflower. Sowing can be started when the air temperature reaches 11-13 degrees Celsius.

Sunflower cultivation in Russia will be effective at a planting depth of about 8-10 centimeters. For cultivation, it is better to select a clay type soil, and the site itself should be open to the sun.

Sunflower grows best in areas where winter rye was grown before it.

How to care?

The sunflower does not require any special care. All he needs is timely weeding, loosening and water.

If the period is too dry, then it is necessary to water the sunflower at least three times - 20-22 days before the beginning of flowering, the second time - at the beginning of flowering, and the third time - 10-12 days after the completion of the flowering process.

Which sunflower to plant?

The best quality are hybrid sunflowers. Their advantage is the same size and equal ripening time. Moreover, the growing season lasts about 100-110 days.

The nominal amount of seeds that must be sown per hectare is about 60 thousand.

But check the seeds for high quality.

It's easy to determine - one thousand seeds should have a mass of about 50-60 grams.

In your country house, you can plant a sunflower bear cub for decoration, the cultivation of which does not cause difficulties even for amateur summer residents.

By the way, ornamental sunflower is very fashionable today and its cultivation, by the way, is gaining momentum in aspiring entrepreneurs.

Another good ESAUL variety. It is distinguished by good yield and short stature. At the same time, ripening can be expected as early as 65-70 days after sowing.

Later varieties can also be used. Sowing a hectare takes about 8 kilograms of seeds and 8-10 hours of time. The cost of a kilogram of seeds is 80-120 rubles.

How to sow?

Pay particular attention to the planting density. Everything here will depend on the variety of sunflower and the climate of the region where it is grown. It is believed that in semi-arid steppes it is best to sow about 40-45 thousand plants on one hectare, and in the steppe region their number can be increased to 60 thousand.

So, if you decide to plant a sunflower, be sure to study the growing areas in Russia. Sowing is not advisable to stretch out in time - it is better to do the work within 1-2 days.

Remember that sunflowers are grown from seeds, so the recommended planting depth must be strictly adhered to (about 20 cm).

What staff and technology is needed?

To carry out all the work, it is necessary to involve several people (at least 2-3). In addition, one or two watchmen may be needed just before harvesting.

The salary of the seeder and the picker is from 20,000 rubles, and the wages of the watchman - from 15,000 rubles.

From equipment you will need a seeder, a tractor and a truck in which fertilizers and seeds can be transported. There is no need to buy equipment - you can rent it. On average, one hour will cost from 2,000 rubles per hour.

What fertilizers do you need?

For a full-fledged "replenishment" sunflower should receive about 5 kg of nitrogen per centner. It is worth making an accurate calculation of the required amount of fertilizer. In case of exceeding or lowering the norm, you can even be left without a crop.

During the period of sunflower growth, it is advisable to pay attention to weed harvesting. If there is a need for the use of herbicides, then it is enough to carry out a one-time treatment (but only when the plant height reaches 40 cm).

This will ensure the best yield and minimum damage when cleaning.

It should be borne in mind that sunflower can hurt. The most common disease is verticillosis. The probability of its infection is about 40-50%. To avoid damage, seeds must be treated with fungicides.

To increase the yield of sunflower, it is advisable to grow it on irrigation. It will not be superfluous to provide for watering (in this case, additional treatment with herbicides will be required).

The cost of purchasing various formulations and processing - from 2,000 rubles.

Sunflower production

When to Harvest?

In order not to be mistaken with the timing, you should have a flow chart for growing sunflower at hand. As a rule, harvesting is necessary when 10-13% of plants with yellow baskets remain on the field. The remainder should be dry and brown in color.

It is advisable to collect sunflower as soon as possible - within 5-7 days. Certain losses should not be ruled out. As practice shows, they can make up from 3 to 5% of the total harvest.

It is quite possible to achieve a reduction in crop loss if sowing and harvesting is done in a timely manner. In this case, it is desirable to collect the collection at a moisture content of no more than 20%.

No more than 3% of the sunflower should be left behind the combine. Every 2-3 hours it is necessary to stop and check the quality of the cleaning process. The task of the combine is the separation, threshing, accumulation and cleaning of grain.

Potential of consumers of sunflower oil production in Russia

What is the profitability of the business?

As for the main factor for an entrepreneur - profitability, it will be the higher, the more the area is sown. From one hectare of land, you can get an average of 10 thousand rubles.

Thus, the sunflower growing business is a very attractive direction. If measured as a percentage, in some regions of Russia the profitability can reach 200-300%.

Growth of participants in the oil production market according to the 1st quarter of 2014 to
in relation to the I quarter of 2013

Summing up:

The total costs for harvesting and finalizing seeds are from 2,000 rubles per hectare.
Initial investments - from 60 thousand rubles.
Net profit per hectare - from 10 thousand rubles.
Fertilizers, processing (costs) - from 2000 rubles.
Staff salaries - from 35 thousand rubles.
Business profitability - 200-300%.
The cost recovery is one year.

Thus, growing sunflower is one of the safest, most profitable and interesting types of business. At the same time, do not forget that he requires from you certain knowledge and a responsible approach to business.

My name is Ivan Rogozin. I have lived all my life in the city of Krasnodar. Despite my urban life, I just adore agriculture, so I connected my life with growing sunflower.

The fields of the Krasnodar Territory turned out to be very fertile. Within a few years, the business began to bring good results in the form of profit. Gradually, I increased the area for sowing and today I have about 30 hectares of land at my disposal.

The total yield is about 600 centners.
Net profit - from 300 thousand rubles.
The total profitability is from 270%.
There is also an additional income - the sale of fried sunflower seeds at a price of 70-90 rubles per kilogram. Income from this direction is from 100 thousand rubles.
Initial costs - from 60 thousand rubles.
Staff - 4 people.

As an introduction

Sunflower cultivation is one of the most profitable businesses today. This explains the popularity of growing this crop not only in our country, but also in the world.

Even Peter I became a trendsetter for sunflower, from which butter, soap, margarine and halva were made. A separate conversation is the seeds, without which it is difficult to imagine modern life.

What are the benefits of doing business?

The advantage of sunflower is its unpretentiousness. It feels great in arid climates and under the scorching sun. Sunflower cultivation is very popular in Ukraine, Turkey, Russia and even Argentina.

In Russia, the ideal conditions for business are in the Stavropol and Krasnodar Territories. The area of ​​land occupied by sunflower is constantly increasing.

It is believed that in a few years about 8 million hectares of land will be occupied by this agricultural crop.

Sunflower is a plant that is resistant to drought and cold. As a result, it is ideally adapted to our climate. The duration of cultivation is only 80-120 days (it all depends on the type of variety and the technology chosen).

Is the business difficult?

The sunflower growing business is very profitable, and the sunflower growing technology is simple and accessible even to a beginner. That is why many farmers prefer to make money on the fruits of this culture. Up to 18-30 centners of the crop can be harvested from one hectare of land.

What should the earth be like?

You must clearly understand the peculiarities of growing sunflower, as well as the importance of high-quality soil. In particular, the land must contain all the necessary mineral and organic fertilizers.

It is possible to sow sunflower in the same place no earlier than in 7-8 years. Otherwise, even black soil is quickly depleted and becomes unsuitable for planting agricultural products. Therefore, the areas for sunflower should be alternated.

It is necessary to prepare the soil for planting in the fall. The harrowing process is carried out from the beginning of spring, and after that pre-sowing cultivation begins.

To protect the plants from the negative impact of harrowing, it is worth trimming the surface of the field before planting the sunflower. Sowing can be started when the air temperature reaches 11-13 degrees Celsius.

Sunflower cultivation in Russia will be effective at a planting depth of about 8-10 centimeters. For cultivation, it is better to select a clay type soil, and the site itself should be open to the sun.

Sunflower grows best in areas where winter rye was grown before it.

How to care?

The sunflower does not require any special care. All he needs is timely weeding, loosening and water.

If the period is too dry, then it is necessary to water the sunflower at least three times - 20-22 days before the beginning of flowering, the second time - at the beginning of flowering, and the third time - 10-12 days after the completion of the flowering process.

Which sunflower to plant?

The best quality are hybrid sunflowers. Their advantage is the same size and equal ripening time. Moreover, the growing season lasts about 100-110 days.

The nominal amount of seeds that must be sown per hectare is about 60 thousand.

But check the seeds for high quality.

It's easy to determine - one thousand seeds should have a mass of about 50-60 grams.

In your country house, you can plant a sunflower bear cub for decoration, the cultivation of which does not cause difficulties even for amateur summer residents.

By the way, ornamental sunflower is very fashionable today and its cultivation, by the way, is gaining momentum in aspiring entrepreneurs.

Another good ESAUL variety. It is distinguished by good yield and short stature. At the same time, ripening can be expected as early as 65-70 days after sowing.

Later varieties can also be used. Sowing a hectare takes about 8 kilograms of seeds and 8-10 hours of time. The cost of a kilogram of seeds is 80-120 rubles.

How to sow?

Pay particular attention to the planting density. Everything here will depend on the variety of sunflower and the climate of the region where it is grown. It is believed that in semi-arid steppes it is best to sow about 40-45 thousand plants on one hectare, and in the steppe region their number can be increased to 60 thousand.

So, if you decide to plant a sunflower, be sure to study the growing areas in Russia. Sowing is not advisable to stretch out in time - it is better to do the work within 1-2 days.

Remember that sunflowers are grown from seeds, so the recommended planting depth must be strictly adhered to (about 20 cm).

Useful links to case studies that suit you:

Read a useful article: "Advertising business or how to start without money"?

What staff and technology is needed?

To carry out all the work, it is necessary to involve several people (at least 2-3). In addition, one or two watchmen may be needed just before harvesting.

The salary of the seeder and the picker is from 20,000 rubles, and the wages of the watchman - from 15,000 rubles.

From equipment you will need a seeder, a tractor and a truck in which fertilizers and seeds can be transported. There is no need to buy equipment - you can rent it. On average, one hour will cost from 2,000 rubles per hour.

What fertilizers do you need?

For full-fledged "feeding" the sunflower should receive about 5 kg of nitrogen per centner. It is worth making an accurate calculation of the required amount of fertilizer. In case of exceeding or lowering the norm, you can even be left without a crop.

During the period of sunflower growth, it is advisable to pay attention to weed harvesting. If there is a need to use herbicides, then it is enough to make a one-time treatment (but only when the plant height reaches 40 cm).

This will ensure the best yield and minimum damage when cleaning.

It should be borne in mind that sunflower can hurt. The most common disease is verticillosis. The probability of its infection is about 40-50%. To avoid damage, seeds must be treated with fungicides.

To increase the yield of sunflower, it is advisable to grow it on irrigation. It will not be superfluous to provide for watering (in this case, additional treatment with herbicides will be required).

Costs for the purchase of various formulations and processing - from 2,000 rubles.

Sunflower production

3>When to Harvest?

In order not to be mistaken with the timing, you should have a flow chart for growing sunflower at hand. As a rule, harvesting is necessary when 10-13% of plants with yellow baskets remain on the field. The rest should be dry and brown in color.

It is advisable to collect sunflower as soon as possible - within 5-7 days. Certain losses should not be ruled out. As practice shows, they can make up from 3 to 5% of the total harvest.

It is quite possible to achieve a reduction in crop loss if sowing and harvesting is done in a timely manner. In this case, it is desirable to collect the collection at a moisture content of no more than 20%.

No more than 3% of the sunflower should be left behind the combine. Every 2-3 hours it is necessary to stop and check the quality of the cleaning process. The task of the combine is the separation, threshing, accumulation and cleaning of grain.

Potential of consumers of sunflower oil production in Russia

What is the profitability of the business?

As for the main factor for an entrepreneur - profitability, it will be the higher, the more the area is sown. From one hectare of land, you can get an average of 10 thousand rubles.

Thus, the sunflower growing business is a very attractive direction. If measured as a percentage, in some regions of Russia the profitability can reach 200-300%.

Growth of participants in the oil production market according to the 1st quarter of 2014 to
in relation to the 1st quarter of 2013

Summing up:

The total costs for harvesting and finalizing seeds are from 2,000 rubles per hectare.
Initial investments - from 60 thousand rubles.
Net profit per hectare - from 10 thousand rubles.
Fertilizers, processing (costs) - from 2000 rubles.
Staff salaries - from 35 thousand rubles.
Business profitability - 200-300%.
The cost recovery is one year.

Thus, growing sunflower is one of the safest, most profitable and interesting types of business. At the same time, do not forget that he requires from you certain knowledge and a responsible approach to business.

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I read your message. I have ideas to make your business more profitable. How do you write a few words. My address

Sunflower (helianthus) is an amazing representative of the Aster family, which began to be grown in our country at the behest of Peter the Great. The legendary king noticed these wonderful "garden suns" in Holland, where he arrived on a working visit, and could not leave without taking a couple of sprouts with him. It was from that moment that the sunflower began to slowly take root in our country, and today it is no longer possible to imagine a single suburban area not illuminated by the bright light of this little “yellow sun”. North America is considered the birthplace of the sunflower.

This representative of the Aster family can reach a height of up to two and a half meters. The plant has a rather thick erect stem. Baskets of the "summer sun" reach up to thirty-six centimeters in diameter. The sunflower has reed flowers. The plant is distinguished by semi-double, non-double and double flowers of a red-brown, golden, yellow hue. Helianthus blooms from early July until frost.

Growing a sunflower on a windowsill

A sunflower is a magnificent plant that can be easily grown both on a windowsill at home and in a garden bed at a summer cottage.

When growing amazing and everyone's favorite helianthus, you should not choose tall varieties, because they are not suitable for growing at home. To grow a sunflower at home, you need sunflower seeds. They can be purchased either ready-made in a supermarket or in a specialized flower shop. In this case, the gardener will be exactly sure what kind of variety he is growing and what height he will reach. In no case should a seed be grown without husk. It is also impossible to grow a flower from fried or salted seeds.

Growing a sunflower should start with the selection of a container suitable for growing. The sunflower does not like transplanting too much, so for dwarf varieties it is better to immediately pick up a pot with a diameter of at least forty centimeters... If a grower decides to grow a giant sunflower variety, for example, on a balcony, then it is preferable to choose a container with a volume of at least eighteen liters.

The next step is to fill the sunflower growing tank with drainage and soil. Expanded clay, gravel or pebbles are perfect as drainage. Then soil is poured into the growing container. You can use, for example, a mix of compost and ready-made potting mix. It is important to follow this rule: the ground should not reach the edge of the pot by about two and a half centimeters.

It is necessary to plant sunflower seeds to a depth of no more than two centimeters.... A box ninety centimeters long can hold no more than eight plants, planted ten centimeters apart. Seeds are placed in pairs. In this case, you need to be prepared for the fact that less viable shoots will have to be removed in the future.

After planting is complete, the soil must be abundantly moistened. The further irrigation regime is quite stable: once every two days, thirty milliliters for each seed. In no case should the soil be allowed to dry out.

Sunflower seeds can germinate after three, and after eight, and after fourteen days... If this does not happen after two weeks, then the chance of further emergence of seedlings is reduced to almost zero. After the appearance of the first shoots, it is necessary to remove the less viable ones so as not to interfere with healthy and strong shoots to develop. As soon as the plant reaches thirty centimeters, watering should be increased to sixty milliliters.

Finding the right spot for the sunflower is important. Helianthus does not tolerate being in the shade, so it it is better to place in a well-lit room, on a loggia or balcony... After the first buds begin to form on the plant, it is necessary to increase the watering volume to seventy-five milliliters.

A sunflower can be a great home decoration. It grows quickly enough and, by and large, does not need additional feeding. If you want to achieve blooming of helianthus as soon as possible, you should feed the plant with general fertilizers (for example, Osmocote).

As the sunflower grows, the grower may face such a problem: the top of the flower can become so heavy that it will need to be tied to some kind of support. In this case, you can tie the helianthus, for example, to a bamboo stick.

To collect the seeds, you must wait until the flower is completely dry. A huge advantage of growing a sunflower at home is its complete protection from birds, which often attack the plant in an open area long before harvesting.

Growing a sunflower in a summer cottage

Sunflowers are very fond of hot summers. In any case, when growing a sunflower in a summer cottage, you need to be very careful when choosing a place for growing garden suns. Helianthus really does not like drafts and shade, so he should choose a site that is well lit and protected from the winds. Sunflowers prefer to grow in soil with acidity levels between 6.0 and 7.5. You can add the required pH level to the soil with acid compost. On the contrary, to reduce the pH level, the soil must be fertilized with granular sulfur.

Helianthus is quite resistant to adverse conditions, however, excessively moist soil can greatly harm the plant. It is for this reason that a reliable drainage system must be created for the sunflower.

It is better to plant helianthus seeds not earlier than the beginning of May.... when the earth has finally warmed up. The holes for the seeds can be made shallow, a couple of centimeters will be enough. For tall varieties, the distance between plantings should be at least forty centimeters, for medium-tall varieties - thirty. Sunflowers are very fond of free space. As with growing at home, several seeds can be poured into one hole, and then the strongest and most viable seedlings can be selected.

The flower grower should pay special attention to watering the helianthus. Moistening the soil must be done daily. In this case, you must observe the measure and do not flood the seeds!

With proper care, sunflowers will bloom two to two and a half months after planting. In strong winds, it is better to prop up the helianthus with a wooden stick.

Summer cottage "sunny" flowers rarely suffer from the attack of various pests. The gray moth loves to lay its eggs on the leaves of the helianthus. In this case, the larvae should be removed mechanically - just collect them by hand. If a sunflower is damaged by rust or mold, plant breeders spray the flowers with an antifungal agent. Birds are another obstacle to the successful cultivation of helianthus, because they love to feast on seeds even before harvesting. To protect sunflowers from "uninvited" feathered guests, many gardeners pull on special nets.

Seeds should be collected only when they are completely dry, and the helianthus begins to lower its head. The sunflower is widely used in group plantings both for collecting seeds and for cutting.

Growing sunflower in a summer cottage

Sunflower is grown not only on plantations, but also on ordinary household plots. It is widely used in folk medicine as a diuretic, expectorant, to enhance immunity, improve memory and many other purposes.

The sunflower blooms from July to August, and the seeds ripen in September. The best predecessors are winter wheat, potatoes, and corn.The next year, do not touch the soil during the season, leave it fallow. Observing crop rotation. growing plants will always be successful.

Unfavorable predecessors: beans, peas, sugar beets, rapeseed, alfalfa and other perennial herbs.

The sunflower has a powerful root system, the depth of which can reach 4 m, while the lateral roots diverge on the sides up to 1 m. The sunflower can be returned to its original place only after 6 years from the previous sowing.

Choose a plot for growing sunflowers that is well-lit, protected from the wind. It grows well in fertile soil with a neutral pH of 6.5-7.5, sandy loam, black soil. Will not grow on salty, heavy clay soil.

In autumn, it is desirable to carry out deep plowing of the soil (25-30 cm) with the simultaneous introduction of complex mineral fertilizers and rotted manure. Completely remove all plant residues. In early spring, burrow the ground to remove weeds at the beginning of their development.

Sunflower seeds are treated in a solution of potassium permanganate for disinfection and in a growth stimulator (Immunocytophyte solution 2.5 tablets per 100 ml of water for 30 minutes). Seeds are sown in open ground in a nesting way in mid-May, when the soil temperature at a depth of 5 cm warms up to 10-12 ° C. Planting depth 5-8 cm depending on seed size. Put 2-3 seeds in each nest. Observe the distance between the nests within 35-45 cm, with a smaller distance, the stem will stretch upward, and the flowers will become smaller. The distance between the rows is 70-100 cm, which will provide you with convenience for further sunflower care. For successful cultivation of sunflower, add 20-25 g of ammonium nitrate to the nests, this will allow the sprouts to reach the soil surface faster, as well as 20 g of superphosphate per running meter.

The first shoots appear in 1-2 weeks after sowing, sometimes shoots appear in 25 days, if the seeding depth was great. The sprouts are thinned out when the second pair of leaves appears, leaving the strongest ones (you cannot pull out, just cut them off). When the third pair of leaves appears, weeds are weeded in the aisles, and after a while the soil is loosened to a depth of 10 cm. You can spud the plants for strengthening and fertilize with ammonium nitrate to improve the set of vegetative mass. Loosening is stopped at a sunflower height of 60-70 cm.

Watering the sunflower is necessary as needed, but especially this should be monitored during the formation of 2-4 pairs of leaves, during the formation of the basket, during the flowering period and when the seeds begin to fill. When you grow a sunflower, you need to know that it is better to water it less often, but abundantly, so that the moisture reaches the very depths of the roots, than often and little by little.

Sunflower draws out a huge amount of nutrients from the soil, therefore, after the formation of the third pair of leaves, add superphosphate (20-40 g per 1 sq. M). Dry fertilizer is scattered at a distance of 15 cm from the plant and embedded in the soil to a depth of 10 cm.When the baskets are formed, fertilize the soil with potassium and nitrogen in the form of a mullein infusion diluted with water (1:10) and potassium sulfate (1 tbsp. l). A repeated dose of potassium sulfate is applied during the ripening of seeds.

During flowering, tall sunflower species may need support if hilling was not carried out in a timely manner.

The sunflower head always turns towards the sun, and when the basket turns to the east and stops, then it's time to harvest the sunflower. The kernels become hard, acquire the appropriate color, the leaves dry out. The baskets are cut, dried, seeds are knocked out, dried and laid out in paper bags.

You can also collect sunflower in another way. Try the ripeness of the seeds for a "tooth", if they click, then you can collect. Tilt the hat into the bucket and beat it with your hand, the seeds will fall out by themselves.If the sunflower kernels are soft, give them some more time.

Pull out the stem of the sunflower and burn it to kill the pests that may be in them. We do not recommend adding it to the compost for the same reasons. After harvesting sunflower, the soil must be fertilized, since after this crop it will be depleted.

According to the technology of growing sunflower, cereals, barley and wheat are considered the best predecessors for this crop. Before sowing, the soil must be completely cleared of weeds. It is not recommended to sow the seeds of the described culture after the legume family, alfalfa, Sudanese. The fact is that these plants, in the process of their development, select moisture at a considerable depth, and also have common diseases. According to experts, the sunflower is returned to the same place at least 7 years after the last harvest.

Field processing

The main requirement for soil cultivation is the suppression of the growth of weeds, as well as leveling the surface of the site. On heavily clogged fields, semi-steam processing is used. After grain crops, in the presence of a significant amount of weeds, the stubble is cultivated with disc harrows to a depth of 8 centimeters. After a while, when the parasitic crops begin to grow, shallow plowing is carried out, up to 12 centimeters in depth. Repeated, deep plowing (up to 27 centimeters) is done in September. In winter, snow retention is carried out to accumulate moisture. Presowing soil treatment consists of harrowing and cultivation

Fertilization

According to the intensive cultivation technology, sunflower needs certain doses of organic and mineral fertilizers. According to experts, for each hectare of sown area, it is necessary to apply from 20 to 40 tons of manure, as well as complex mineral fertilizers such as N45P60K45, which will increase the crop yield up to 3.5 centners per hectare. Note that the best impact of manure is possible when this organic fertilizer is applied under the previous crop. Mineral fertilizers are applied at the rate of 40-60 kilograms per hectare.

Nutrients can be applied in the fall, before plowing the plow, or in the spring when planting is in progress. It is not recommended to scatter phosphorus-containing fertilizers in the spring, because they can evaporate. if fertilizers were applied in the fall, then the components containing phosphorus are sown in rows along with the seeds. In the future, crop top dressing is applied using such a N20P30 complex. It should be understood that excess nitrogen in the soil lowers the plant's resistance to drought and major diseases, and also reduces the percentage of oil in the seeds.

Sowing sunflower

According to the technology, large calibrated grain of elite varieties or hybrids is used for sowing. The mass of seeds intended for sowing should be in the range from 75 to 100 grams for the main varieties, at least 50 grams per 1000 pieces in relation to hybrids. It has been noticed that it is better to sow hybrids in heated soil, to a depth of 10 centimeters. According to general requirements, during sowing of sunflower, the soil should warm up to 10-15 degrees. At this temperature, the germination of grains is accelerated.

Sowing density depends on the region of cultivation and soil moisture supply. So, in the humid forest-steppe regions, 40-50 thousand grains must be sown per hectare. For semi-arid steppe, the seeding rate is 10 thousand less. When using hybrids, the density of crops is increased by 10-15%. If we translate grain into kilograms and take into account the peculiarities of a particular region, then the sowing of a hectare of usable area will take from 6 to 10 kilograms of grain.

Sowing is carried out with special vacuum seeders of the SKPP 12 type, observing row spacing of 70 centimeters.The seeds are deepened by 4-10 centimeters, depending on the growing region and soil type.

Sunflower care

To improve the germination of seeds and pull up soil moisture, after the seeder, rollers are passed through the field. Weed control consists of harrowing crops, inter-row cultivation of crops, and the use of herbicides for the same purpose. Pre-emergence harrowing is applied during seed germination using tine harrows of medium weight. It is advisable to harrow the crops diagonally or across the rows 5 days after sowing the seeds. In the case of using soil herbicides, mechanical tillage is not carried out. Chemicals are applied to the surface by spraying during the sowing period and some time after it.

Disease and pest control

During the growing season, sunflower can infect various diseases and pests, so each farmer must take preventive measures to prevent damage to crops. Treating seed material, as well as treating plants with special preparations, will help protect the culture.

To avoid disease damage, seed dressing is carried out a month before sowing:

• a drug called TMTD 80% concentration at the rate of 3 kilograms per ton of seed helps prevent sclerotinosis and gray rot;
• most types of sunflower rot will be destroyed by Rovtal 50% concentration at the rate of 4 kg / t;
• downy mildew is treated with Apron 39% mixed with microelements at the rate of 6kg / t;
• spraying crops with Vofatox 18% will help to destroy the weevil.

Harvest

Sunflower harvesting is started during the yellowing of the crop baskets from the back side, wilting and drying of flowers, hardening of seeds. With technical maturity, the moisture content of the grains is within 12-14%, with full maturity within 10%. They start harvesting with combines when at least 85% of the baskets are ripe. In some cases, crop detoxification may be required. which will stimulate the ripening of the culture. It should be noted that a delay in such operations for at least a week will lead to grain shedding and an increase in crop losses. For storage, it is necessary to lay seeds with a moisture content of up to 8%.

Taking into account the use of new hybrids and varieties. with improved characteristics, farmers manage to achieve excellent results in this important branch of agriculture.

The currently used sunflower cultivation technology is based on the following principles:

Knowing how to grow a sunflower in accordance with all the rules, you can get a good income from this industry.

• careful selection of high-quality seed of fruitful varieties that are resistant to drought and disease;
• compliance with crop rotation when planting sunflowers;
• proper tillage and preparation of the soil before sowing;
• applying suitable fertilizers in the right amount;
• compliance with the terms of sowing sunflower seeds;
• plant care during the season;
• timely harvesting with the help of special harvesting equipment.

Knowing how to grow a sunflower in accordance with all the rules, you can get a good income from this industry, because sowing requires from 5 to 10 kg of seeds per hectare, and the yield per hectare can reach 25-30 centners. Moreover, not only vegetable oil is obtained from the collected seeds, but also meal, husk, cake. which can become a tangible additional source of income.

Video about the elements of sunflower growing technologies

Sunflower cultivation will be successful if crop rotation is observed, correctly alternating crops in the field. A sunflower can be sown on the same place no earlier than after 6 years, otherwise the broomrape seeds and pathogens will accumulate in the ground, which can have an extremely negative effect on the crop.

For sunflower, the most desirable precursors are spring and winter cereals and corn. Since perennial grasses, alfalfa and sugar beets deeply dry out the soil, it is categorically not recommended to plant sunflowers after them (and when growing cereals, perennial weeds must be destroyed in a timely manner). Beans, soybeans, peas and rapeseed are also unsuitable predecessors, since these crops share diseases in common with sunflower. But after the sunflower, it is better to leave the field under steam for a while.

Precursor for sunflower planting

Soil cultivation after the crops have been harvested consists in stubble cultivation to a depth of about 10 cm. Plant residues in the field are not burned, because this burns a large amount of nitrogen, which is so necessary for sunflowers. Due to stubble plowing, post-harvest residues are crushed and embedded in the soil, which increases its fertility, the probability of weed germination is significantly reduced, pests and pathogens are destroyed, the soil absorbs atmospheric precipitation better and dries out less.

Preparing the soil for sowing

For the normal supply of moisture and nutrients to sunflower, it needs a well-permeable, moisture-absorbing soil with a deep arable layer and no compaction. Sandy loams, chernozems and loess soils meet these requirements. Successful cultivation of sunflower is also possible on lighter soils, provided there is a high humus content. Silty and heavy clay soils are categorically unsuitable for these purposes, as well as very acidic or saline soils.

Soil for planting sunflower

Stages of soil preparation for sowing:

• To accumulate the optimal amount of water, mobilize nutrients and better aeration of the soil in autumn, deep plowing of the field is carried out (after grain crops - by 25 cm, with a strong soil contamination with nitrogen - by 30 cm) with simultaneous incorporation of complex fertilizers.
• If it is necessary to destroy weeds and to level the surface of the earth, autumn cultivation can be carried out up to 10 cm in depth.
• Harrowing is carried out in early spring, thanks to which weeds are destroyed at an early stage of development, and at the same time soil moisture is preserved.
• Two weeks before sowing, the sunflower is cultivated in order to create a sowing bed and preserve nitrogen reserves in the soil. The cultivation depth should correspond to the planting depth of sunflower seeds.

Fertilizers required for sunflower

Mineral and organic fertilizers, applied in sufficient quantities, will increase yields and accelerate the development of sunflowers. Throughout the growing season, sunflower needs phosphorus, nitrogen, potassium fertilizers, as well as trace elements such as boron, zinc and manganese.

It is advisable to apply organic fertilizers when growing precursor plants, since organic nitrogen is mineralized very slowly. You can also add rotted manure under sunflower before autumn fall plowing. Also, mineral fertilizers are applied for the autumn plowing of the soil - due to deep embedding, they bring more benefits. Nitrogen spreading is recommended before stubble plowing, and in addition, nitrogen fertilization is applied in the spring during pre-sowing cultivation.

In the event that it was not possible to apply mineral complex fertilizers in the fall, they can be applied simultaneously with the cultivation or sowing of sunflower using the belt-local method. Spreading fertilizer in the spring will be ineffective (especially for phosphorus).

Sowing sunflower seeds and further care

Sowing sunflower seeds

To prevent the appearance of pests and the spread of diseases, sunflower seeds are treated with fungicides before sowing.You can add micronutrient fertilizers and growth stimulants in addition to fungicides, then the cultivation of the sunflower will be faster.

Modern high-oil varieties are sown when the soil warms up to +12 degrees at a depth of 5 cm. With earlier sowing, the seeds may simply become moldy and lose their germination. But the sowing time should not be too delayed either, because the seeds swell for a long time.

Sunflower seeds are sown with wide row spacing up to 80 cm, observing the seeding rate and seeding depth. Sowing options are also possible according to the scheme 70x30 cm (dotted planting) or 70x70 cm (square-nested planting). Each method has its pros and cons, the main thing is to create an optimal nutritional area for the sunflower.

Video about growing sunflower using no-till technology

In the future, the technology of growing sunflower involves post-emergence harrowing with the introduction of herbicides to protect weak seedlings from weeds. In the initial growing season of sunflower, it is important to carry out inter-row weeding, and before flowering, take out an apiary with bees to the field to increase the yield of sunflowers. Throughout the growing season, it is necessary to monitor whether pests and symptoms of diseases have appeared on the sunflower, and to carry out insecticide treatment in a timely manner.

Harvesting is carried out after most of the sunflower baskets become brown, and the moisture content of the seeds will be from 12% to 20%.

Sunflower is a plant from the Aster family. The culture is grown for the sake of oily seeds. On personal plots, decorative species are also found. In summer cottages, it is better to grow not an oilseed, but a special roasted sunflower with large achenes.

Sunflower is a good honey plant. The plant attracts a lot of bees and other pollinating insects to the site.

Modern sunflower varieties are unpretentious. However, knowledge of the technology and some biological and agrotechnical features of the crop will be useful to everyone who is going to grow it.

Preparing for landing

Sunflower is an annual plant up to 5 meters high. One or more baskets ripen on each stem. The sunflower fruit is called achene. Achenes of modern varieties and hybrids have a shell layer that protects the kernel from damage by the sunflower moth.

A plot for sunflower is dug up in the fall, so that moisture formed from melting snow can accumulate and remain in the loose soil. Dig as deep as possible, at least on a shovel bayonet. In the spring, before sowing, they carry out a minimum tillage - they are leveled with a rake, and if necessary, they pass with a Fokin plane cutter to destroy the seedlings of perennial weeds.

Seeds are pickled before sowing, clearing spores of phytopathogenic fungi that cause rot. The most effective drug is Fundazol. This fungicide of systemic and contact action protects against powdery mildew, spotting, root and gray rot. The disinfectants work within a week after sowing.

The seeds are immersed in a fungicide solution for 3 hours - 10 g. the funds are diluted in 0.5 liters of water. Instead of Fundazol, you can use Maxim. Treated seeds are stored no more than 2 days before sowing.

Growth regulators increase seed germination, accelerate plant growth and development. Sunflower seeds are soaked in a solution of Epin or Zircon. The growth regulator must be chosen depending on the climate of the region. Epin gives the plant resistance to cold, Zircon - to drought.

Treatment with regulators can be combined with etching. Together with dressing agents, you can use another growth stimulator - Potassium Humate. For seed treatment, it is diluted with water 1:20.

Sunflower planting

Sunflowers grow well on chernozems and meadow-chernozem soils, preferring soils with a neutral or slightly alkaline reaction. The plant does not like clay soils, giving the maximum yield on loams and sandy loams.

Where to plant

Sunflower suffers greatly from diseases and pests, therefore it is picky about crop rotation. The best predecessors of sunflower are corn and castor oil plants. Plants are returned to their original place not earlier than after 5-6 years, in some cases in the fourth year.

Sunflowers are not placed after crops that have diseases in common with it:

• peas;
• tomatoes;
• soybeans.

Soil temperature

Sowing can be started when the soil at the seeding depth warms up to 10 degrees. At this temperature, the seeds start growing quickly and amicably, their germination increases. If sown earlier, in cold soil, they will not germinate for a long time and some of them will rot in the ground, which will lead to thinning of the plantings.

Depth

The standard sowing depth is 4-6 cm. In arid climates, seeds are sown deeper - 6-10 cm, and on clay soil in a cold, damp spring, it is enough to lower the seeds to a depth of 5-6 cm.

How to sow

Sunflower is sown in rows. Row spacing of 70 cm. This planting pattern allows for manual weeding and provides each plant with sufficient feeding area. When thickening, nutrition and lighting conditions deteriorate, so the baskets will be small, and the seeds will be puny.

Sunflower care

The root system of a sunflower is able to use water that is inaccessible to other cultivated plants, as it penetrates to a great depth. Nature has endowed sunflowers with the ability to make the most of rain and irrigation water, sucking it in with small roots located in the upper part of the fertile soil layer.

Watering

Even a small amount of rainwater will not pass by the plant, but will roll down the leaves to the stem and moisten the soil in the area of ​​small roots. The presence of small roots next to the stem must be remembered during loosening, since at this time the small roots are damaged.

Despite their adaptability to drought, sunflowers need to be watered, and the plant needs moisture at all stages of growth. The culture removes many nutrients from the soil, especially potassium. In terms of potassium removal, it has no equal at all.

Top dressing

Sunflower has to be fertilized at all stages of agricultural technology:

• before sowing;
• when sowing;
• carry out feeding during the growing season.

Plants absorb nutrients unevenly. Before flowering, when the roots and the aerial part are actively growing, a lot of nitrogen and phosphorus are consumed. When the baskets appear, phosphorus consumption drops sharply. Potassium is needed by sunflowers from the beginning to the end of the growing season, but especially a lot - before flowering.

Nutrients affect sunflower in different ways.

• Nitrogen - enhances growth, helps the plant to form larger baskets. Excess lengthens the growing season, promotes lodging.
• Phosphorus - is necessary for the development of the root system and fruiting. If there is a shortage of baskets, many empty cells are formed. Phosphorus is important at the beginning of development - up to the fourth pair of leaves. Phosphorus nutrition helps plants better absorb moisture, making them less prone to drought. Enhanced phosphorus nutrition reduces watering.
• Potassium - promotes the formation of tasty grains and increases the yield. On soils poor in potassium, the stems of sunflowers become fragile and thin, young leaves turn into brown shreds, and growth slows down. To do without such problems, it is necessary to apply a sufficient amount of potash fertilizers to the soil.
• Boron - cannot be synthesized in the plant, therefore it has to be applied with complex fertilizers. With a lack of a trace element, growth points begin to suffer. Sunflower is more sensitive to boron than most agricultural plants. In an acute deficit, growth points completely die off. If there is not enough boron in the late stages of sunflower development, the baskets will be filled with barren flowers and there will be few seeds.

Fertilizers are applied in autumn for digging or in spring in belts simultaneously with sowing. You should not apply the fertilizers in the spring randomly, as this leads to the loss of nutrients. It is better to apply phosphorus fertilizers in the fall in rows, and fill in nitrogen and potash fertilizers in the spring when sowing.

If desired, during the growing season, liquid fertilizing is carried out with a mullein. There is no need to get carried away with organic matter, as excess nitrogen makes plants less resistant to drought and disease.

Weeds are a serious problem in sunflower crops. The sunflower will have to be weeded at least three times. Weeds not only interfere with the growth of young plants, blocking out the sun, but also compete with them for water and food.

Sunflower pests

After the end of pollination, when grains are poured in the baskets, birds can cause damage: starlings, pigeons, sparrows. To protect against feathered heads, they are wrapped in several layers of gauze.

When to harvest

The sunflower is harvested when the back of the basket turns yellow, the reed flowers wither and fall off, and the color of the seeds will take on the standard intensity for the variety. On a sunflower, most of the leaves should dry up by the time of harvest.

In the garden, the sunflower ripens unevenly. Therefore, cleaning is carried out in several stages, selectively.

Best regions to plant

Sunflower is a typical plant of the steppe and forest-steppe zone. More than 70% of the world's harvest is grown in Russia and Ukraine.

The best regions for growing sunflower:

• Volga region;
• south of Russia;
• Rostov region;
• Krasnodar region;
• Stavropol region;
• Central part of Russia.

Most of the sunflower is grown in the regions (in descending order):

• Saratov;
• Orenburg;
• Altai region;
• Volgograd;
• Rostov;
• Samara;
• Voronezh;
• Krasnodar region;
• Tambov;
• Stavropol region.

Summer residents in these areas can plant sunflowers without fear of crop failure. In a more northern climate - the North-Western District, the Urals, Siberia, the Far East, sunflowers for personal use are grown through seedlings or sown in open ground with the earliest varieties - Buzuluk, etc.