Sunflower Project Operational Group: Improving the sustainability of sunflowers through conservation agriculture PHASE 1

In Andalusia, sunflowers are the second most cultivated herbaceous crop in terms of surface area. They are currently the main spring crop and essential in the rotation associated with CAP subsidies.

Currently, more than 95% of land is managed through tillage, which destroys soil structure, exposes it to loss of organic matter, and increases direct evaporation of moisture. This is a very important factor in our conditions, as it often has to be cultivated without significant rainfall. Another negative effect of conventional agriculture is CO2 emissions into the atmosphere, in addition to leaving the soil unprotected, posing an unacceptable risk of erosion in an agriculture that must be sustainable.

Direct seeding solves these problems, although its implementation in sunflower cultivation under the soil and climate conditions found in Andalusia presents some difficulties, mainly in the germination of the plant, making it necessary to provide innovative solutions in this regard. Less experience is available, and both human (training) and technical (management and machinery) resources must be improved to obtain innovative tools that farmers can rely on.