Feasibility of growing conventional confectionary sunflower hybrids in organic agriculture: preliminary results of organic trials

Abstract

As organic agriculture represents one of the most sustainable ways of agricultural land use, the key purpose of this research was to improve confectionary sunflower production in organic agriculture. The trial compared seed yield per plant of conventional confectionary sunflower hybrids in organic vs conventional production. Subsequently, 1000 seed weight, seed yield per plant and kernel ratio of confectionary hybrids treated with the following fertilizers used in organic production: fertilizer of animal origin (G), fertilizer based on amino acids and nitrogen (T) and microbiological fertilizer (N) were compared with untreated control (C). Fertilizers enhanced yield of sunflower compared to untreated control; the highest yield was recorded in combined of G+N and G+T, all in organic agriculture system. NS Gricko had the lowest seed yield per plant compared to the other hybrids that significantly increased when treated with G+N fertilizers; same results were obtained in treatments of NS Slatki, and NS Leviathan. Preliminary results of the study indicated that application of organic fertilizers can have a positive effect on yield of sunflower in organic production conditions, which indicates that further research is necessary.