BASF’s sunflower hybrids from the InSun® line proved themselves in the critically dry 2023.

2023-12-22 16:13:59

The experiments conducted confirmed the stability in performance and their tolerance to the most important sunflower diseases

According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture, until 2012, yields at the sunflower are greatly increased based not only on genetics but on anything that improves production. After this year, however, there is a trend of permanent retention of yields due to the climate and, more specifically, the drought. What can we do, asked Bozhidar Bonev, Product Manager of Oilseed Crops – Seeds and Plantation in BASF.

He pointed out that the plasticity of field genetics is of great importance for performance under different climatic conditions as well. As an example, Bonev gave the density of sowing, as a means by which we can regulate the behavior of plants and set them up in such a way that they give the maximum of themselves. Due to the lack of insecticides effective enough to treat seeds, farmers prefer to insure themselves with denser crops. For some hybrids, however, high densities prove to be an obstacle.

Finally, as a summary, it is important to note that

our hybrids perform best at plant densities between 5,200 and 5,800 plants,

the product manager pointed out.

“However, there are hybrids such as the InSun 222 CLP, whose features allow it to have an excellent level of self-regulation. Unlike everyone else hybrids at densities above 5,000 plants per hectare, it not only does not decrease the yield, but also has a slight increase even when reaching 6,500 plants,” informs Bozhidar Bonev.

Another important requirement for sunflower hybrids is protection of yield potential from the diseases that attack the oilseed crop. A

hybrids from the InSun® line have very good tolerance to the main diseases

and especially to the very current in recent years Macrofomina, Sclerotinia and Verticillium.

“The Bulgarian farmer is one of the most innovative because we are in first place in terms of how many hybrids we use in our farms. They are on average 2.6 in one farm”, Bozhidar Bonev drew attention to the Bulgarian experience.

That is why BASF offers

4 hybrids with leading qualities, but each with its merits, from the two main technologies

– Clearfield® plus and tolerant to herbicides with the active substance tribenuron-methyl, and with the idea of ​​combining them according to the specifics of the areas where they will be grown.

In 2023, the company conducted 12 micro-plot trials in Bulgaria in 4 locations. The average results of two leading hybrids in the Clearfield® plus direction are absolutely at the level of the competition. The InSun 222 CLP performed even better than most of them.

The other hybrid that performed well was Acordis CLP with excellent yield potential, very high oiliness, better disease resistance and Blue Wrist up to and including race F.

BASF’s tribenuron-methyl hybrids are Averon SU, which farmers have known since last year, and the new InSun 277 SU.

“The results were extremely competitive, which makes us happy, because 2023 was an important test for the drought resistance of hybrids and for their adaptability to local conditions,” Bozhidar Bonev summarized.

He also reminded of

one of the most drought-tolerant hybrids – Koloris CL and Drakaris CLP from the InSun® series.

With its early maturity, Dracaris CLP can be grown as a second crop and also in late sowings, at higher altitudes. Koloris CL, on the other hand, is of the type of hybrids that can withstand the worst weather conditions – drought, lighter soils and severe temperature stress.

With InSun®, BASF sets itself a realistic goal – to become a reliable and secure partner of Bulgarian farmers in these challenging times for all participants in agriculture.