The objective of this research was to evaluate the production of sunflower in the off-season, supplemented or not with irrigation and cultivated after the crops of soybeans, corn or palisade grass. The treatments were allocated in a randomized blocks design in split plot (2x3), the supplemental irrigation by center pivot and without irrigation in the plots, and in the subplots the crops predecessors: soybeans, corn and palisade grass, with four replications. The height, stem diameter, shoot dry weight, number of leaves per plant and leaf area were evaluated at 15, 30, 45, 60, 75 and 90 days after emergence of sunflower plants. Sunflower plants were tall under all cultivation conditions, without variability in the evolution of stem diameter and of number of leaves. Leaf area was less in sunflower plants grown under corn straw and palisade grass under non-irrigated conditions. No significant effects on yield components - mass of thousand seeds, head diameter and oil and grain yield were observed. After cultivation of soybean, sunflower plants produced greater dry mass of shoots and higher oil content in the seed compared to plants established under corn stalk.
Helianthus annuus; Zea mays; Glycine max; Urochloa brizantha; cultivation of off-season
