Seeding System Configuration Effects on Sunflower Seedling Emergence and Yield under No-Tillage

Abstract

No-tillage farming can improve crop productivity and the reliability of cropping compared with conventional tillage. The effects of three different seeding system configurations on surface residue handling, sunflower emergence and stand establishment, yield, and gross income were investigated over three cropping seasons. The seeding system configurations comprised of (1) turbo coulter blade, (2) notched disc row cleaner before turbo coulter blade, and (3) no residue handling unit installed in front of a double-disc opener. For all three seeding system configurations, crop residue cover on sown rows (after seeding) was greater than the minimum recommended value of 30% for no-tillage. Residue cover was best with the notched disc row cleaner in front of the turbo coulter blade compared to the other two seeding systems. Furthermore, the notched disc row cleaner in front of the turbo coulter blade produced the highest plant emergence counts and the most uniform stand establishment. Sunflower yield and gross income were highest with the notched disc row cleaner in front of the turbo coulter blade (3.16 Mg·ha−1 and 902 USD·ha−1) compared to when only the turbo coulter blade (2.38 Mg·ha−1 and 680 USD·ha−1) or no residue handling unit (1.69 Mg·ha−1 and 482 USD·ha−1) was used.

Influence of Mineral Fertilizers and Methods of Basic Tillage on the Yield and Oil Content of Sunflower

“…In studies conducted in Pakistan, India, Argentina and China, better soil characteristics (Wasaya et al, 2017;Sher et al, 2021) and sunflower yields were observed with conservation tillage compared to other tillage methods (Wang et al, 2017;Sher et al, 2018;Paul et al, 2020). As noted by Nardón et al (2021) in the conditions of the Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina, sunflower yields and gross income were the highest with the no-till technique (3.16 mg•ha 1 and 902 USD•ha 1).…”

Cuantificación de los efectos del tráfico de la maquinaria agrícola sobre el suelo y el rendimiento del cultivo de girasol (Helianthus annuus L.)

“…Para poder resolver este inconveniente las sembradoras de NL están equipadas con cuchillas llamadas "labra-surcos" (ubicadas delante de los discos abre-surcos) que retiran de la hilera los restos vegetales. No obstante, esto produce un excesivo desplazamiento lateral del suelo, lo que, coincidiendo con Nardón et al (2021), frustra el propósito del sistema NL y sumaría una dificultad más en algunos suelos, el correcto tapado de las semillas de girasol.…”

“…Estos suelos ocupan una superficie aproximada de 1,27 Mha. El cultivo realizado en NL es el sistema mecanizado dominante, aunque también existen importantes extensiones trabajadas bajo el sistema LC (Nardón et al, 2021).…”

“…Para controlar los efectos de los extremos de las hileras y las hileras laterales, se descartaron los datos de los primeros y últimos 10 m de cada parcela y de cada una de las hileras laterales. Se contó el número de plantas emergidas por metro lineal para todos los surcos a los 11, 15 y 22 días después de la siembra siguiendo el método utilizado por Nardón et al (2021).…”