Contribution of leaves to the yield of sunflowers – Pine Ridge 2015–16

Abstract

Key findings •• Sunflower grain yield averaged 1.07 t/ha at this site with the highest yields obtained from the control and the treatments where only the bottom one third (1/3) of leaves were removed. •• The total leaf removal treatments had the largest effect on yield, at worst yielding only 0.16 t/ha. •• Removing all leaves at budding or at the start of the flowering growth stages had the largest effect on plant structures. •• Total leaf removal at the end of flowering had the largest effect on 1000 grain weight and test weight.