The role of crop rotation in the economy of sunflower production of the Russian Federation

On the territory of the Russian Federation, the main cultivated oilseed crop is sunflower. The share of acreage under this agriculture has been steadily growing in recent years. In 2022, they increased by 280 thousand hectares and amounted to 10.0 million hectares, while over the period from 2013 to 2022, the acreage occupied by the crop increased by 38%. According to the Ministry of Agriculture of Russia, in 2022 the sunflower harvest increased by 4.5% compared to 2021 and amounted to 16.4 million tons, which in turn allowed to increase the production of sunflower oil by 14%. Sunflower seeds are in stable demand from domestic oil extraction plants, as well as on the international market, which in turn encourages farmers to increase the area of sowing. However, an increase in the share of sunflower in the structure of sown areas above the scientifically justified level is associated with a real risk of reducing crop yields and reducing the productivity of all crop rotations. According to the research result, the highest crop yield was obtained in the regions where the scientifically justified proportion of sunflower in the structure of crops is maintained.