Sunflower Project: Improving the sustainability of sunflowers through conservation agriculture

In Andalusia, sunflowers are the second largest herbaceous crop in terms of surface area, and are currently the main spring crop and essential in the rotation associated with CAP subsidies. Currently, more than 95% of the crop is managed by tillage, which causes destruction of the soil structure, exposing it to loss of organic matter and greater direct evaporation of moisture. This is a very important factor in our conditions, as it often has to be developed without significant rainfall.

Another negative effect of conventional agriculture is the CO2 emissions into the atmosphere, as well as the fact that the soil is left unprotected and there is an unacceptable risk of erosion in an agriculture that must be sustainable. Direct sowing resolves these problems, although its implementation in sunflower cultivation under the soil and climate conditions found in Andalusia presents some difficulties, mainly in the emergence of the plant, making it necessary to provide innovative solutions in this regard.

There is less experience available and the resources, both human (training) and technical (management and machinery) need to be improved in order to obtain innovative tools that farmers can rely on. It is hoped that the necessary experience and technical solvency will be obtained so that the critical mass of farmers can promote the implementation of these techniques throughout Andalusia and that they can be extrapolated to other regions of the EU.