2008 Vermont Sunflower Variety Performance Trial Results

2008
Vermont Sunflower Variety
Performance Trial Results
Heather Darby, Karen Hills, and Erica Cummings
UVM Extension
802-524-6501
2008 VERMONT SUNFLOWER VARIETY PERFORMANCE TRIALS
Heather Darby, University of Vermont Extension
[email protected]
In 2008, the University of Vermont Extension conducted a sunflower evaluation program at
Borderview Farm in Alburgh, Vermont. The purpose of this project was to provide yield
comparisons of oilseed sunflower varieties suitable for the Vermont climate. Performance trials
were established as replicated research trials at Borderview farm in northern Vermont. In
addition, an on-farm non-replicated variety assessment was conducted by John Williamson of
Stateline Farm in North Bennington.
TESTING PROCEDURE
Replicated Research Trials:
Replicated sunflower variety trials were conducted in Alburgh. The experimental design was a
randomized complete block with three replications. Ten varieties were trialed with a range of
maturity dates. The specific varieties and maturity groupings are listed in Table 1.
Table 1. Varieties trialed and distributors
Company
Croplan
Seeds 2000
Croplan
Seeds 2000
Triumph
Seeds 2000
Croplan
Interstate
Interstate
Interstate
Variety
Croplan305
Viper
Croplan803
Defender +
Triumph820HO
Teton
Croplan3080
IS6521
IS6039
Hysun 521
Maturity
89
Medium
88
Early
75-85
Med.-early
90
95
95
94
Seasonal precipitation and temperature recorded at a weather station in close proximity to the
2008 site is shown in Table 2. This growing season brought cooler temperatures and higher than
normal rainfall patterns across the region. The additional rainfall did not appear to effect plant
growth but did pose some difficulties during dry-down and harvesting.
Table 2. 2008 Temperature and Precipitation Summary
Location*
June
Temp.
Alburgh
July
Average
August
Average
Departure
from
normal
Total
Average
Departure
from
normal
Average
Departure
from
normal
Average
Departure
from
normal
GDD
Total
Temp.
54.3
-2.3
67.6
+1.8
71.5
+0.4
68
-0.6
63
+3
Precip.
1.4
-1.6
7.2
+4.0
7.86
+4.5
2.8
-1.1
1.3
-2.2
GDD
148
----
526
----
621
----
549
----
393
----
Total
Total
Departure
from
normal
Total
Total
Total
October
Precip.
Total
Total
September
Total
Based on National Weather Service data from cooperative observer stations in close proximity to field trials. Historical averages are for 30
years of data (1971-2000). Average GDD was not available for Alburgh location.
The seedbed at each location was prepared by conventional tillage methods. All plots were
managed with practices similar to those used by producers in the surrounding areas (Table 3).
Plots were seeded at a rate of 30,000 seeds per acre. The plots size was 10’ x 100’ at the Alburgh
site. Planting was done with standard sunflower seeding equipment. Plots were harvested with
an Almaco SP50 plot combine. Yield was measured by weighing the harvested sunflowers on a
platform scale. At harvest, moisture, population, plant height and head size were measured on a
10 plant subsample per plot. In addition, percent lodging and bird damage were estimated for
each plot.
Table 3. General plot management at the Alburgh site.
Trial Information
Location
Soil type
Previous Crop
Row Width (in.)
Planting date
Herbicide
Harvest date
Tillage operations
Trial Location &
Cooperator
Alburgh
Borderview Farm
Silt loam
Sunflower
30 inches
5-28-08
1.5 pt.Trifluralin
9-18-08
Plow and disk
RESULTS
The ranges in yield varied considerably and were determined to be significant (Graph 1). The
lowest yielding variety Croplan803 produced 722.8 lbs/acre. 3136.3 lbs/acre was recorded for
the highest yielding variety IS6039. Due to the extensive bird damage, the yields would not have
been reflective of each variety’s yield potential, therefore calculations were made to determine
the yields taking into account the percent pest damage. Significance was determined in the
percent lodging and in plant height. No significant difference was seen in the flower head size
and in the amount of pest damage (Table 4).
Table 4. Oilseed Sunflower Results
Variety
Yield lbs/ac*
% Lodged
% Pest Damage
Head size (in.)
Plant Height (in.)
Croplan305
Croplan3080
Croplan803
Defender
Hysun 521
IS6039
IS6521
Teton
Triumph820HO
Viper
1329.4c
1355.2c
722.8c
2400.6a
2736.2ab
3136.3a
2220.0b
1419.7c
800.2c
1148.7c
16.7b
18.9b
15.5b
21.1b
17.8b
8.9b
26.7b
53.3a
52.2a
21.1b
60.0
67.8
67.8
47.8
38.9
32.2
51.1
46.7
58.9
69.4
3.7
3.4
3.0
3.8
4.1
4.0
3.8
3.9
3.4
3.4
78.2a
76.4ab
73.6bcd
72.6dc
70.9de
68.4e
70.7ed
74.5bc
74.8abc
73.8bc
Trial means
LSD
1726.9
770
25.2
19
54.1
NS
3.7
NS
73.4
3.6
*Yield values were calculated using actual yields and bird damage data.
Graph 1. Yield and variety comparison
The seeds from each variety were dried down to ~11% moisture and pressed twice through a
Chinese oilseed press. The oil yields from these varieties ranged from 29.4 to 94.1 lbs/acre
(Table 5). The largest quantity of sunflower oil pressed came from Defender +, producing 94.1
lbs/acre. There were two varieties that tied for the smallest amount of oil produced Croplan3080
and Croplan803 at 29.4 lbs/acre (Graph 2). Its important to note that the lowest yielding varities
had some of the most significant losses due to bird damage, therefore it is difficult to compare
yield potenital.
Table 5. Dry seed yield and oil yield of sunflower varieties.
Variety
Croplan305
Croplan3080
Croplan803
Defender +
Hysun 521
IS6039
IS6521
Teton
Triumph
Viper
Total Dry Seed Wt.
lbs/acre
250.00
235.29
117.65
417.65
526.47
582.35
376.47
355.88
85.29
167.65
Total Oil Yield Wt.
gallons /acre
58.82
29.41
29.41
94.12
91.18
91.18
73.53
52.94
41.18
35.29
Graph 2. Comparison of the seed and oil yields from each of the sunflower varieties.
ON- FARM TRIAL
Data collected from the on-farm non-replicated sunflower variety trial at Stateline Farm in N.
Bennington, Vermont is contained in Table 6. The highest yielding variety was the Defender+
with 1656 lbs/acre. Triumph820HO, on the other hand, had the lowest yield with 367 lbs/acre.
Table 6. Results from on-farm non-replicated trial
Harvest Date
Variety
Yield (lbs/ac)
% Moisture
9/12/2008
9/12/2008
9/12/2008
9/12/2008
9/18/2008
9/18/2008
9/18/2008
Defender+
IS6039
Viper
IS6521
Defender
Hysun521
Triumph820HO
1656
996
371
771
749
563
367
13.9
14.2
13.6
14
----
UVM Extension would like to thank the Rainville and Williamson families for their generous
help with the trials.
Support for this project provided by the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund.
University of Vermont Extension and U.S. Department of Agriculture, cooperating, offer education and employment to everyone without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability,
political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or familial status.