FEATURES OF SUNFLOWER PLANT DENSITY

Abstract

Goal. The aim is to analyse the peculiarities of sunflower varieties and hybrids in different soil and climatic conditions of Ukraine, which would contribute to the maximum yield of seeds of this crop.Materials and methods of the study. The research was carried out by studying the literature on the density of sunflower varieties and hybrids.Research results. In the complex of agrotechnical measures of sunflower cultivation, on which the yield and its quality depend, an important place is occupied by the plant density. A significant harvest can be obtained due to high individual productivity and the maximum permissible stem density in a particular growing area. The density of sunflower plants has a significant impact on the diameter of the plant basket: the higher the density, the smaller the size of the plant basket and vice versa. It has been established that soil and climatic conditions and planting density have a high impact on the variability of sunflower yields.According to many researchers, the optimal density of sunflower plants in the southern Steppe is 30–35, in the northern Steppe – 45–50, and in the Forest-Steppe – 50–55 thousand plants/ha.Conclusions. The analysis of the literature shows that sunflower is a strategically important oilseed crop in Ukraine. To increase the yield and quality of sunflower seeds, the latest sunflower hybrids should be introduced, and the recommended requirements for their sowing and care should be followed. Due to changes in climatic conditions, 2–3 sunflower hybrids of different maturity groups should be sown in agricultural formations to ensure high yields of the crop's seeds.In the conditions of the central Forest-Steppe of Ukraine, the optimal and most rational plant density for ultra-early sunflower hybrids with a growing season of up to 90 days is 60–70 thousand plants/ha, for early maturing hybrids with a growing season of 96–100 days, a density of 55–60 thousand plants/ha should be formed, for medium-early hybrids with a growing season of 105–110 days, a density of 50 thousand plants/ha is recommended.