Sunflower field walk Wednesday 3 March - FAR Lincoln Research Site 'Kowhai Farm' - the Foundation for Arable Research
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Sunflower field walk
Wednesday 3 March
FAR Lincoln Research Site
‘Kowhai Farm’
High oleic sunflower field walk
Ivan Lawrie and Phil Rolston (FAR), Keith Gundry (Pure Oil NZ)
Key points:
• High oleic sunflower oil is recognised by consumers for its quality and a range of health
benefits.
• In 2017, a range of high oleic sunflower hybrids were imported from France.
• Sunflower hybrid Idillic has performed the best in initial trials at FAR’s Kowhai
Research Site (Lincoln), with sowing dates ranging from late October to mid-
December.
• Current research is focused on establishment densities, nitrogen responses and bird
management.
Consumer demand for high oleic acid sunflower oil
In 2017, FAR and Pure Oil NZ identified an opportunity to diversify the oilseed production
for Canterbury and other regions. The choice to go to high oleic sunflower hybrids rather
than standard types was a response to consumer demand for a high-quality product with
health benefits for domestic use. Pure Oil NZ has identified clear markets for this locally
grown, niche product. While initially the domestic market is where the demand is there is
potentially an opportunity for export down the track.
Internationally, sunflower grows well in temperate regions where wheat, barley and maize
are grown. Hybrids suitable for New Zealand conditions were selected and imported from
France by Pure Oil NZ.
Growth of sunflower crop area
The High oleic sunflower crop area has grown from 60 hectares (ha) in 2017 to 400 ha in 2020
and is spread from North Canterbury to Southland. The sunflowers fit well into cropping
rotations in these regions as they provide an opportunity to control grass weeds, have
relatively low input and nutrient demands, and have short crop length (approx. 120 days).
They are also great for the health of the soil. Their strong roots penetrate deep through the
soil, which encourages rainwater to infiltrate deeply and help break up compaction.
FAR trials of imported hybrids and commercial yields
In 2017, a trial was undertaken at the Kowhai FAR Research site at Lincoln in which two
imported hybrids, ‘Idillic’ and ‘Baltic’, were sown at 45 cm row spacings at four different
timings; 26 October, 8 November, 22 November and 6 December.
The trial showed that there was no difference in yield between times of sowing 1, 2 and 3
(late October-November) but that there was a significant decrease in yield for time of sowing
4 (6 December), for both hybrids. ‘Idillic’ had a significantly higher yield than hybrid Baltic
(3.74 versus 3.16 t/ha). There was no interaction between sowing date and hybrid.
3
Commercial field data from Pure Oil NZ indicated that hybrid Idillic had a greater yield
(approximately 0.5 t/ha regardless of sowing dates) than hybrid Baltic in the 2017-18 and
2018-19 seasons. In the 2019-20 season, Pure Oil NZ harvested 300 ha of high oleic sunflower,
up from 65 ha in the first season. The current average yields for the commercial crops are 2.5
t/ha.
Sunflower agronomy trials in 2020-2021
With support from the MPI SFF Food Products for the Future project we are continuing to
explore aspects of crop agronomy that can maximise yield. These include plant density,
appropriate plant nutrition and, in particular, bird damage at emergence and crop maturity.
Trial sites have been established in Canterbury and Manawatu.
On 31 October 2020, 6.5 ha of the hybrid Idillic were established at the Kowhai Research Site
in Lincoln, Canterbury. Planting rates ranged from 70,000 to 110,000 plants/ha. The site soil
test (0-15 cm) recorded pH 6.0, Olsen P = 20; K MAF QT = 13; Ca MAF QT = 10; Mg MAF QT
=19. The crop was sown at 50 mm depth using a Horsch precision planter and 150 kg/ha of
DAP on a conventionally cultivated seedbed. Trifluralin herbicide (2 L/ha) was applied and
incorporated pre-sowing, followed by Stomp (2 L/ha) + glyphosate (360 2 L/ha) and 1.2 L/ha
Lorsban insecticide pre-emergence. Exclusion cages were set up to measure the effects of
birds and rabbits on plant establishment across the different planting rates. The early
establishment period was very dry.
4
headland
planted
parallel to
N fence
balance of paddock at 90,000 seeds
101 100,000 seeds 301
102 80,000 seeds 302
103 110000 seeds 303
104 70,000 seeds 304
105 90,000 seeds 305 60 m
201 110000 seeds 306
202 100,000 seeds 307
Red clover 203 90,000 seeds 308
204 80,000 seeds 309
12 rows x
205 70,000 seeds 310 50 cm = 6 m
Figure 1. Layout of the plant density trial.
Table 1. Seedling population for a sunflower hybrid Idillic crop at Kowhai Farm in Lincoln,
Canterbury, in 2020-21 following sowing at different seed populations.
Seeds sown (ha) Viable seeds sown (ha) Population/ha
70,000 65,100 58,750 c
80,000 74,400 68,250 b
90,000 83,700 70,500 b
100,000 93,000 83,000 a
110,000 102,300 86,500 a
LSD (p=0.05) 8470
P value
Table 2. Pre-sowing soil mineral nitrogen (N) (NO3 and NH4) at depths of between 0 and 90
cm at Kowhai Farm on 6 October 2020.
Depth (cm) Soil Min N (kg/ha)
0-30 26.4
30-60 16.5
60-90 23.1
total 66
Table 3. Nitrogen (N) treatments in sunflowers at Kowhai Farm in Lincoln, Canterbury in 2020-
21.
Soil N Sow N 3 December Applied N Total N
Treatment
(kg/ha) (kg/ha) (kg N/ha) (kg N/ha) (kg /ha)
1 66 26 0 26 92
2 66 26 32 59 125
3 66 26 58 84 150
4 66 26 83 109 175
5 66 26 108 134 200
6 66 26 132 159 225
Plant height - N applied
180
160
140
120
Height (cm)
100
80
60
40
20
0
5-Dec 10-Dec 15-Dec 20-Dec 25-Dec 30-Dec 4-Jan 9-Jan 14-Jan 19-Jan 24-Jan
N0 N132 Linear (N0) Linear (N132)
Figure 2. Sunflower heights for the no nitrogen post-planting (N0) and the highest applied N
rate (N132) (132 kg N/ha).
Irrigation
The site at Kowhai is split between irrigated and dryland areas. The dry November resulted in
significant delays in the emergence and early growth of the sunflowers (Table 4).
6
Table 4. The effect of dryland and compacted, over-cultivated soil on sunflower height and
growth stage at 5 January 2021 (9 weeks after sowing).
5 January Height (cm) Growth stage
Inflorescence clearly separating from
Irrigated 102 R3
youngest leaves
Inflorescence just separating from
Irrigated, compacted soil 63 R2
youngest leaves
Dryland 60 R1 Inflorescence just visible
7
Kowhai Farm 2020-21 production costs until Growth Stage R7
ProductionWise® was used to collect data on production costs associated with the high oleic
sunflower hybrid Idillic.
Table 5. Excel sheet providing a summary of ProductionWise® data on production costs
associated with the high oleic sunflower hybrid Idillic up to Growth Stage R7 at Kowhai Farm,
Lincoln in 2020-21.
Operation Date Occurred Performed By Cost Per ha
Cultivation 15/10/2020 Contractor $125.00
Spraying 22/10/2020 Contractor $32.00
Cultivation 22/10/2020 Contractor $120.00
Cultivation 24/10/2020 Contractor $35.00
Sowing 31/10/2020 Contractor $150.00
Spraying 7/11/2020 $32.00
Irrigation 20/11/2020 Farm Employee $0.15
Fertiliser Applicati 8/12/2020 Contractor $100.00
Irrigation 8/12/2020 Farm Employee $0.15
Irrigation 17/12/2020 Farm Employee $0.15
Irrigation 15/01/2021 Farm Employee $0.15
Input Date Occurred Product Rate/ha Unit Cost Per Unit Cost Per ha
Herbicide 22/10/2020 Trifluralin 1.8 L/ha $11.81 $21.26
Fertiliser 31/10/2020 DAP 150 kg/ha $0.69 $103.20
Seed 31/10/2020 ES Idillic 8.2 kg/ha $9.20 $75.44
Herbicide 7/11/2020 Glyphosat 2 L/ha $6.00 $12.00
Herbicide 7/11/2020 Stomp Xtr 2 L/ha $29.94 $59.87
Insecticide 7/11/2020 Lorsban 50 1.2 L/ha $16.73 $20.08
Irrigation 20/11/2020 Water 25 mm $2.15 $53.75
Fertiliser 8/12/2020 SustaiN 120 kg/ha $0.63 $75.60
Irrigation 8/12/2020 Water 25 mm $2.15 $53.75
Irrigation 17/12/2020 Water 25 mm $2.15 $53.75
Irrigation 15/01/2021 Water 25 mm $2.15 $53.75
Cost of Production(up to growth stage R7) $1,177.05
Table 6. Rainfall (mm) – Lincoln, 2020-2021.
October 12.4
November 64.6
December 52.2
January 32.6
February 13.6
8
Sunflower growth guide
VE: Hypocotyl and cotyledons have emerged, and first real leaf is smaller than 4 cm.
VN: The number of real leaves (longer than 4cm) is numbered 4-12 during vegetative stage.
R1: Immature bracts surrounding the inflorescence, arranged in a star shape are visible from
above.
9
R2: The internode below the inflorescence is 0.5-2.0 cm above the last real leaf on the stem.
R3: the length of the internode between inflorescence and last leaf is longer than 2cm.
10
R4: Inflorescence begins to open with the outer ligulated flowers visible.
R5: At this stage anthesis of the inner tubulated flowers is produced, with the outer
ligulated flowers fully developed. This stage can be split according to the proportion of
anthesis reached e.g. R5.5 etc.
11R6: Anthesis now complete and outer ligulated flowers are wilted.
R7: Receptacle starts to turn pale yellow.
R8: Receptacle now yellow but bracts are still green.
12R9: Bracts are brown and most of the receptacle is also brown. The crop has reached full
maturity.
13A comparison of bird scaring devices
A range of bird scaring devices are being tested at Kowhai Farm for damage at crop
maturity, including:
• 2 Laser devices
• 2 Gas guns
• 1 Bird Gard sonic device
• 1 Experimental Hypersonic device provided by Lincoln Agritech
X18-38 - Sunflower Bird Scaring Trial - Kowhai Farm N
Gate 3
Column 1
2 ha
Bird Gard Laser
Dryland
2.4 ha
Untreated Gas Gun
Gas Gun Laser
Springs Road
Gate 2
Pump shed
Column 5 Column 4
Powerlines
14© Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) DISCLAIMER This publication is copyright to the Foundation for Arable Research and may not be reproduced or copied in any form whatsoever without written permission. It is intended to provide accurate and adequate information relating to the subject matters contained in it. It has been prepared and made available to all persons and entities strictly on the basis that FAR, its researchers and authors are fully excluded from any liability for damages arising out of any reliance in part or in full upon any of the information for any purpose. No endorsement of named products is intended nor is any criticism of other alternative, but unnamed product.
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