ProCrop

Sunflower Planting Date May Affect Oleic Acid Content

Planting NuSun sunflower varieties too early or late may reduce oleic fatty acid content. Two studies in North Dakota, a date of planting study by the Dickinson and Hettinger Research Extension Centers and Slope County Extension Service (Figure 1) and a study by Miller, Rehder, and Vick of the USDA-ARS Northern Crop Science Laboratory, Fargo (Figure 2) indicate that planting NuSun sunflower varieties early had significantly less oleic fatty acid than plantings made in mid- to late-May. The southwest North Dakota study shows that even plantings made in mid-June had reduced oleic fatty acid content when compared to plantings made in mid- to late-May. The study at Fargo confirms the trend seen in the southwest North Dakota study but that study has a much smaller window of planting dates. The study in southwest North Dakota used a medium-early maturing variety while at Fargo a medium-late maturity variety was used in that study. With processors of NuSun sunflower setting a minimum standard for oleic concentration of 55%, producers will not only need to consider the impact that planting date has on sunflower seed yield but will also need to consider the impact that planting date has on desirable oleic fatty acid content. The April and mid-June plantings in southwest North Dakota produced seed that would be rejected if the minimum oleic fatty acid concentration is 55%. None of the planting dates at Fargo produced seed that contained less than 55% oleic fatty acid.

Summary annual reports for the southwest North Dakota site may be found at the Dickinson Research Extension Center web site:

http://www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/dickinso/

 

 

Planting date: 1^st = 26 Apr; 2^nd = 9 May; 3^rd = 23 May; 4^th = 6 Jun; 5^th = 17 Jun.

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