Browsing by Subject "Sunflower"

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
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    Evaluating an interspeccific Helianthus annuus x Helianthus tuberosus population for use in a perennial sunflower breeding program
    (2013-05) Kantar, Michael Benjamin
    Global population is projected to reach nine billion people by 2050, and the human population will need an adequate food supply and methods for sustainable production. Over the past century, agriculture has greatly increased crop yields and productivity. However, this increase in productivity has often come at the expense of long term environmental sustainability through overuse of fossil fuel-based fertilizers, and the depletion of fresh water and arable land. Addressing environmental damage is essential for the production of adequate food. Future cropping systems will need an increased emphasis on ecosystem services. Ecosystem services can be incorporated into the landscape by increasing nutrient and water efficiency in major crops, adjusting agronomic practices (timing and duration of irrigation and nutrient applications), and by using perennial crops. Perennial crops show promise as a sustainable agricultural production tool that provides ecosystem services (maintaining healthy soil, controlling erosion, improving water quality, and enhancing wildlife habitat). Perennial crops could also provide economically viable cropping option to farmers. Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is an ideal crop for perennialization because of existing genetic resources and a wide variety of end-uses. The objective of this research was to evaluate interspecific hybrids between perennial Helianthus tuberosus L. (2n=6x=102) and annual Helianthus annuus L. (2n=2x=34) for perenniality and agronomic traits; assessing their utility in developing a perennial seed crop.
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    Irrigation and Nitrogen For Sunflower and Fieldbean On Sandy Soil
    (Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station, 1985) Robinson, R.G.
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    Particleboard from Aspen Flakes and Sunflower Hulls
    (Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station, 1972) Gertjejansen, R.O.; Haygreen, J.G.; French, D.W.
    Laboratory particleboards of 42 Ib/ft3 (pounds per cubic foot) nominal density were manufactured from sunflower hulls and 1/2" aspenflakes. Sunflower hull to aspen flake weight proportions were: 1:0 (all sunflower Hulls), 1:2, 2:1, and 0:1 (all aspen flakes). Although the addition of sunflower hulls reduced board strength and stability, Commercial Standard CS 236·66 minimum property requirements for modulus of rupture and modulus of elasticity were met by the 100% sunflower hull boards. However, the addition of approximately 50% aspen flakes would be required to meet the same minimum property requirements for internal bond strength and linear dimensional stability. Susceptibility to decay fungi increased with increasing sunflower hull content.
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    Sunflower Planting Date: An Important Decision
    (Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station, 1985) Robinson, R.G.; Rabas, D.L.; Wiersma, J.V.; Warnes, D.D.
    Sunflower production involves a series of decisions, and one of the most controversial is optimum date of planting. Planting date affects not only sunflower growth, but it also affects the severity of damage from insects and fungi that feed on sunflower. Planting date recommendations vary among specialists. Consequently, recommendations are often generalized to include a 1- to 2-month period in the northern states. The sunflower varieties and hybrids grown on Minnesota farms do not usually require the entire growing season, so planting dates range from late April to early July. Research plot data in this report show the effect of date of planting on sunflower growth, seed yield, seed quality, and oil quality. The effect of date of planting on severity of damage from sunflower pests is also discussed. Date-of-planting trials were conducted from 1967 through 1969 with Peredovik, Armavirec, and Krasnodarets oilseed varieties and Arrowhead, Mingren, and 66 VI nonoilseed varieties at Rosemount and Grand Rapids. USDA 894 hybrid was used from 1982 through 1984 at Grand Rapids, Crookston, and Morris. Trials were located on sandy soil at Grand Rapids and on silt loam soil at the other locations.