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ARS Home » Plains Area » Fargo, North Dakota » Edward T. Schafer Agricultural Research Center » Sunflower and Plant Biology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #217224
Title: Quality assessment and yield of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) grown at multiple locations in Mississippi

Author
item ZHELJAZKOV, VALTCHO - MISSISSIPPI STATE
item Vick, Brady
item EBELHAR, M - MISSISSIPPI STATE
item BUEHRING, N - N MISSISSIPPI RES EXT CTR
item BALDWIN, B - MISSISSIPPI STATE
item ASTATKIE, T - NOVA SCOTIA AGRIC COLLEGE
item MILLER, J - RETIRED ARS

Submitted to: Agronomy Journal
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/8/2008
Publication Date: 5/1/2008
Citation: Zheljazkov, V.D., Vick, B.A., Ebelhar, M.W., Buehring, N., Baldwin, B.S., Astatkie, T., Miller, J.F. 2008. Yield, oil content, and composition of sunflower grown at multiple locations in Mississippi. Agronomy Journal. 100(3):635-642.

Interpretive Summary: The hypothesis of this work was that sunflower could be grown as a cash crop in Mississippi, and that alteration of nitrogen and cultivar would affect oil yield, oil content, and composition. This study investigated the effect of four levels of nitrogen on four different cultivars and their interaction on seed yield, oil content, and oil composition of sunflower grown at five locations in Mississippi. Overall, increasing nitrogen rates reduced seed oil content but increased seed yields and subsequently oil yield per area. Relative to the concentration of oleic acid in the original seed used for planting, oleic acid increased in all locations and cultivars, with only one exception in one cultivar at one location. As expected, there was a corresponding decrease in the concentration of linoleic acid. Also, the concentration of stearic acid decreased relative to the original seed. These results suggest that sunflower under the hot humid climate of Mississippi may accumulate a higher concentration of oleic acid (which may improve health benefits) and a lower concentration of linoleic and stearic acids. Oil yields varied between 483 and 1388 L ha-1 and calculated biodiesel oil per area was 386 to 1,110 L ha-1 (41 to 119 gal/acre) with the different treatments. Sunflower can be a viable crop in most parts of Mississippi for production of cooking oil or biodiesel. Further research is needed on sunflower management practices and on the possibility of double cropping of oilseeds in Southeastern U.S.

Technical Abstract: The hypothesis of this work was that sunflower could be grown as a cash crop in Mississippi and N and cultivar would alter oil yield, content, and composition. This study investigated the effect of N (0, 67, 134, and 202 kg ha-1), cultivar (DKF3875, DKF2990, DKF3510 and DKF3901) and their interaction on seed yield, oil content, and oil composition of sunflower grown at five locations in Mississippi (Newton, Starkville, Stoneville, and two locations in Verona: Verona 1 (site 1 on Catalpa silty clay loam) and Verona 2 (site 2 on Quitman sandy loam soil). The tested cultivars had dissimilar fatty acid composition. The concentration of oleic acid in the original seed oil of the four cultivars DKF3875, DKF2990, DKF3510 and DKF3901 was 29, 26, 85 and 41%, respectively. Cultivar and N rate differences were significant with respect to seed yields at Stoneville, Newton and Verona 2, N rate was significant at Stoneville, and cultivar x N interaction was significant at Starkville and Verona 1. In Stoneville, Newton, and Verona 2, DKF3510 had the highest yields. DKF2990 provided lower yields in Stoneville and in Verona 2. The seed oil concentration was higher in DKF3875 and DKF2990 (43-47%) and lower in DKF3510 and DKF3901 (40-44%) at Stoneville and Verona 2. However, at Newton, the oil concentration was highest in DKF2990, lower in DKF3510 and DKF3901 and lowest in DKF3875. Overall, increasing N rates reduced seed oil content but increased seed yields and subsequently oil yield per area. Relative to the concentration of oleic acid in the original seed used for planting, oleic acid increased in all locations and cultivars, with only one exception in one cultivar at one location. As expected, there was a corresponding decrease in the concentration of linoleic acid. Also, the concentration of stearic acid decreased relative to the original seed. These results suggest that sunflower under the hot humid climate of Mississippi may accumulate a higher concentration of oleic acid (which may improve health benefits) and a lower concentration of linoleic and stearic acids. In most cases, N rate, cultivar, or N x cultivar interaction resulted in altered concentration of other fatty acids (palmitic, arachidic, gondoic, behenic, and lignoceric) in sunflower oil. Oil yields varied between 483 and 1388 L ha-1 and calculated biodiesel oil per area was 386 to 1,110 L ha-1 (41 to 119 gal/acre) with the different treatments. Sunflower can be a viable crop in most parts of Mississippi for production of cooking oil or biodiesel. Further research is needed on sunflower management practices and on the possibility of double cropping of oilseeds in Southeastern U.S.