Successful production under the conditions of a difficult 2020 in Sumy region, Sumy district was recorded in one of the farms of SFG “Berizka” V.P. Marchenko, where the Pegas Premium sunflower hybrid developed by the company “Evrosem” was sown, the yield of which was 4.38 tons /Ha. The growing technology will be presented below in the material, as well as the described conditions under which it was possible to obtain such a result.
About the hybrid . This is a hybrid of the middle group of ripeness, which is intended for production using the “Clearfield” herbicide protection technology. In its segment of cultivation, the hybrid has repeatedly demonstrated high parameters of adaptability, resistance to factors (dormant, resistance to the main pathogens, changes in day and night temperatures) that lead to crop losses or shortages. The yield potential of the Pegasus hybrid is more than 5 tons from one hectare, while having high indicators of oiliness and natural weight. In addition, in some years, the hybrid shows compensatory abilities (high yield even with a decrease in sowing density up to 30%).
About weather conditions. The weather conditions of the Sumy region of the Sumy district were favorable for the cultivation of Pegasus sunflowers, where 280.9 mm of precipitation fell in the form of rain during the period from sowing to harvesting. The average daily temperature during the growing season was from +12 to +21.7 °C, which is the optimal thermal regime for all spring crops. During the period of active growth and development of sunflower crops, the maximum daily temperature was +32°С, which made it possible to generate seeds. The critical condition of crops during their flowering and filling of baskets was not recorded.
Soil preparation and sowing. Soil preparation at the Berezka SFG consisted in peeling the stubble of the predecessor – soybeans, with heavy disk harrows BDVP-6.3 to a depth of 10-12 cm, and in the spring, early spring harrowing was carried out with light harrows. Pre-sowing soil preparation was carried out with a KPG-4.5 cultivator to a soil depth of 5-7 cm even after local application of nitrogen fertilizers – urea at the rate of 120 kg/ha.
About the sowing of Pegasus. The seeds of the hybrid were sown immediately after cultivation on April 24 with a Kinze planter with a mechanical sowing type. The density at the time of sowing is 65,000 pieces/ha of similar seeds. The depth of wrapping is 5-6 cm. During sowing, fertilizers were applied at the rate of 150 kg/ha with the formula N 8 P 19 K 29 in a row at a distance of 3-5 cm from the seed bed.
About crop care . Sowing care consisted only in ensuring the cleanliness of the field from weeds. Thus, the post-emergence herbicide Soteira 1.2 l/ha was applied in phase 2 pairs of true leaves of the culture.
Feeding, fungicidal and insecticidal protection was not carried out.
Pegasus Bloom and Pour. During the flowering of the baskets, the uniformity of flowering and the stability of plant growth were noted. During the ripening period of the baskets, there were no local areas affected by root rot, stem rot, and basket rot. The ripening and filling of the baskets was progressive, without deviations, and the filling of whole seeds of the basket was almost 100%, which indicated the response of the plants to favorable weather conditions.
About collecting . Desiccation of crops before harvesting was not carried out. Harvesting was carried out on October 16 with a Slaas Lexion 540 rotary combine . The seeding density at the time of harvesting was 55,000 plants/ha. During harvesting, it was determined that the actual moisture content of the seeds was within 6.7%, and the yield of the Pegasus hybrid was equal to 4.38 t/ha.
Thus, the yield of the Pegasus hybrid at the level of more than 4 t/ha in the conditions of the Sumy region in the 2020 economic year proves its stable and high productivity and high genetic potential, starting from the moment of friendly emergence of seedlings, genetic tolerance to herbicides of the imidazolinone group and dynamic development from the beginning seed formation and maturation.