SanlucaVery Early Sunflower variety for the UK |
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Sanluca
Sowing Advantages:
- Late sown spring crops can offer a host of advantages, such as;
- Mechanical or herbicide control of early emerging problem weeds.
- Potential to follow winter or early spring harvested crops e.g. Carrots or Fodder Crops
- Avoid the need for early and difficult cultivations, particularly on heavy land.
Sowing Rate: Approx. 7kg/ha (depends on 1000 grain weight)
Target seed population at sowing: 100,000/ha for Sanluca
Soil Type: Most are suitable - the key is getting the soil to >5 degrees C, by the sowing period - which is the end of April/early May.
Herbicides: Very limited approval for herbicides
Trifluralin (off label) and Pendimethalin are approved for pre drilling and pre emergence respectively (Seek advice from chemical advisor before any application). The key with Pendimethalin is to apply the after all other activities and then STAY OFF the soil.
Fungicides: There are few disease that affect UK sunflowers, those that do can best be controlled through good agronomy. As a result there are NO fungicides approved for use on sunflowers in the UK and currently none are economically justified.
Fertilisers: Sunflowers do not like too much Nitrogen - On the poorest soils only 50kg/ha will produce a good crop, while in high fertility situations they may not require any Nitrogen at all.
N - 50kg/ha - maximum on thin soils or following an N hungry crop.
P - 75kg/ha
K - 140kg/ha
Pests:
Birds are the most difficult pests particularly pigeons and rooks which will destroy a crop at very early emergence. They arrive before breakfast and can consume up to 7 or 8 plants each in just a few hours - It doesn't take too many to make some big holes in the crop!!! The only answer is to protect the field intensely for the two or three days as the plants just begin to come through. Once the first true leaves appear the birds leave them alone - they only seem to like the cotyledons.
Aphids can be a problem in some areas but there are no approved insecticides to control them.
Pollen Beetles are a benefit because they enhance pollination - so please don't kill them.
Diseases:
Sclerotinia and Botrytis are the most damaging; for Sclerotinia the only answer is to avoid fields with a history of the disease and avoid tight rotations with other susceptible crops - particularly peas. Botrytis (Grey Mould) will come in as the crop matures, there are no approved fungicides so the answer is to harvest as quickly as possible.
Harvest: Usually takes place in late September or early October leaving sufficient time to allow full preparation and no delay for the following cereal crop. Many growers say that harvesting itself is surprisingly easy. Use the widest setting on the concave and the slowest drum speed. The ground speed should then be quite fast because most UK farmers do not have guide fingers on their combine tables and speed is the only way to ensure that the heads fall back onto the table rather than forwards onto the floor. The crop can be cut at moistures of around 25% although it is better to try to get to between 15 and 20% if the weather and botrytis permits.
Drying: Wet crops MUST be ventilated immediately after harvest. Use ambient air to take out the worst of the moisture and then low temperature heat to take the crop to the target 9%. Sunflowers have an oil bearing lint like hair on the seed surface which can rub off in the dryer. This can be recirculated through the dryer burners and cause a fire hazard. Wherever possible avoid recirculating warm air during the early stages of drying and check intake filters regularly.
Seed Price and availability: Certified Seed of Sanluca is available in bags containing 150,000 seeds and fungicide treated. The Suggested Retail Price per bag is £150.00.
