Direct-to-Stubble Sowing Boosts Sunflower Yield in Edirne

September 17, 2026 · Tarım TV

In Edirne, the direct-to-stubble sowing method, tested as part of drought management efforts, preserved soil moisture while increasing yield by approximately 40 kilograms per decare and reducing costs.

The second year's harvest has been completed within the field studies conducted under the "Effects of Different Tillage Methods and Sowing Times on Sunflower Yield and Yield Components Project" implemented by the Edirne Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry. In the trials carried out in Sarayakpınar village, connected to the city center, the most suitable sowing methods for preserving soil moisture against the risks of climate change and drought, felt in the region, were examined in the field. The harvest program for the trial production, conducted on the land of farm owner Birol Devirgen, saw wide participation from the Edirne provincial protocol and regional producers.

Within the scope of the research project, three different tillage and sowing methods were applied at one-month intervals in February, March, and April. In the study, traditional plowing, stubble-sowing with a chisel plow, and direct-to-stubble sowing models were simultaneously applied on the same field. The effects of different tillage techniques on plant development, root structure, and drought resistance were meticulously recorded. Farm owner Birol Devirgen also stated during the harvest that they observed the stubble-sown plots yielded more compared to other methods.

Edirne Deputy Governor Önder Coşğun, sharing official data on regional agriculture at the harvest ceremony, emphasized that the province ranks third in sunflower production with an 11% share in Turkey. Coşğun recalled that 173,258 tons of product were obtained from 1,238,368 decares in Edirne in 2025 and shared the production estimates for the current season.

Edirne Provincial Director of Agriculture and Forestry, İslam Köse, evaluating the yield results from the trial area, announced that approximately 40 kilograms more product per decare was obtained with the early sowing and stubble sowing method compared to last year's results. Project Manager İslam Köse made the following statement regarding the project process:

Trakya Birlik Chairman of the Board Şafak Kırbiç drew attention to the contributions of direct-to-stubble sowing to the producer's budget and soil health. Stating the economic advantages provided by the method, Trakya Birlik Chairman of the Board Şafak Kırbiç said:

Kırbiç stated that producers will increasingly turn to the direct-to-stubble sowing model as they see the concrete gains in the field.

Edirne Deputy Governor Önder Coşğun, conveying the project's final goal and harvest expectation, stated:

Officials announced that the definitive yield and quality figures for this year's harvest will be shared with the public after the laboratory analyses are completed.

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