Sunflower productivity formation in the northeastern part of Ukraine

Purpose. To determine the efficiency of sunflower (Helianthus annuus) cultivation in the northeastern regions of Ukraine. Methods. Field studies were conducted in 2020–2024 in the Left-Bank Forest Steppe of Ukraine, at the border of two soil-climatic zones: the Forest Steppe and Polissia. Results. The average yield indicators of sunflower in the northeastern regions of Ukraine show that this crop is steadily gaining popularity among producers. On average, across the three regions, the annual crop yield exceeds the indicators obtained across the country. In particular, in 2020, a yield increase of 0.73 t/ha was obtained, in 2021, a yield increase of 0.30 t/ha, and in 2022, a yield increase of 0.25 t/ha was obtained. Additionally, in 2022, with an average sunflower seed yield in Ukraine of 2.16 t/ha, Sumy region achieved a yield of 2.62 t/ha, Kharkiv region – 2.29 t/ha, and Chernihiv region – 2.32 t/ha. Conversely, the data of 2023 showed that cultivation of sunflower in the northeastern region of Ukraine requires careful consideration, as the average yield in Ukraine in this year was 2.45 t/ha. Only Chernihiv region achieved a yield of 3.16 t/ha, while Sumy and Kharkiv regions obtained 2.38 t/ha and 2.18 t/ha, respectively. Therefore, the average yield of the crop in these three regions was 0.08 t/ha lower than the national average. Conclusions. In Sumy, Kharkiv, and Chernihiv regions, sunflower cultivation has reached a large industrial scale, which requires the development of efficient cultivation technology. Over the past four years, the harvested area has averaged 17.7%, and production volume averaged 19.8% of the total sunflower cultivation in Ukraine. At the same time, the average seed yield of the crop was 2.54 t/ha, while in the period 2020–2024, the average yield was only 2.21 t/ha.