SUNFLOWERS 7 



There is an element of risk involved in the growing of the crop which should 

 not be entirely overlooked. Sunflowers are susceptible to damage from wind- 

 storms to the same degree as corn. Wind lodging can be prevented to some extent 

 by so spacing the plants at the time of seeding that thick, strong stalks are pro- 

 duced. 



Uses for the Sunflower Stalk 



Poultrymen who grow sunflowers for feed may want to use the sunflower stalks 

 and leaves for poultry house litter. With the cooperation of the Department of 

 Poultry Husbandry at this station, trials have been made with chopped sunflower 

 stalks as poultry litter. Results indicate that this material makes very good 

 litter, having no objectionable features provided the stalks are chopped fine 

 enough. The material used in these trials was chopped with an ensilage cutter. 

 Figure 5 shows chopped sunflower stalks which were used as litter in the station 

 trials. 



Figure 5. Chopped Sunflower Stalks Used as Litter in Hen House. 



Although the ensiling of sunflowers may not be of particular interest to poultry- 

 men, yields as high as nineteen tons per acre were obtained when the crop was 

 used for this purpose, which compares favorably with the yield of corn. Feeding 

 trials show that if the sunflower plant is ensiled while its leaves and stalks are 

 still green, cattle seem to relish the silage and thrive on it. If the sunflowers are 

 grown entirely for ensiling, they should be cut when the seed is in the dough 

 stage. If the plant is cut too early, it will make a "sloppy" silage and if cut too 

 late, it is apt to be dry and woody. 



