Sunflower

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Cover Crop Name:
Sunflower
Scientific Name:
Helianthus annuus L.
Growth Season:
C3 plant with warm season growth characteristics
Plant Type:
Broadleaf
Life Cycle:
Annual
Plant Architecture:
Upright plant architecture
Relative Water Use:
High water use
Salinity Tolerance:
Fair salinity tolerance
Seeding Depth:
1 – 3 ½ inches
Crude Protein:
Silage 11-12%, Grain 20-28%
Carbon to Nitrogen Ratio:
Leaf 11-14, Stem 41-46, Root 50-68, Flower 14-19
Mycorrhizal Association:
Forms arbuscular mycorrhizal associations
Pollination Type:
Flowers attract pollinators
Other Notes:
Deep-rooted Effective at ‘mining’ mobile nutrients deep in the soil profile Mentioned in crop sequence effects
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