P2725 Growing and Managing Sunflowers for Dove Fields in The

Contents Site Selection ..............................................................................................................................4 Field Preparation .......................................................................................................................5 Planting Dates ...........................................................................................................................5 Seed Spacing and Planting Depths ........................................................................................6 Planting Equipment ..................................................................................................................6 Fertilization ................................................................................................................................7 Weed Control .............................................................................................................................8 Field Preparation for Attracting Doves ................................................................................9 When to Apply a Desiccant .....................................................................................................9 Schedule for Developing a Successful Sunflower Planting for Doves ...........................11 A Comparison of Black-Oil Sunflower Varieties and Herbicide Systems for Dove Field Management Decisions ......................................................................................................12 Sunflower Variety Test ................................................................................................12 Evaluation of Herbicide Systems ...............................................................................15 Cost–Benefit of Hybrid Black-oil Varieties .............................................................17 Conclusion .....................................................................................................................18 Photo credit: USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service Citation: Nelms, K.D., J. Allison, B. Strickland, and B. Hamrick. 2012. Growing and Managing Sunflowers for Dove Fields in the Southeast. Mississippi State University Extension Service Publication 2725. The mourning dove ( Zenaida macroura ) is one of the most numer - doves. Think about it this way: “Feed them and they will come, ous, widely hunted, and economically valuable game birds in Mis - but feed them and accommodate them and they will stay.” sissippi and the Southeast. For decades, landowners and wildlife managers have planted fields in agronomic crops to attract doves Soils for sport hunting—a practice that led to these types of fields Soil characteristics are particularly important for sunflower pro - being known more simply as “dove fields.” duction and seed yields. Sunflowers are best adapted to moder - ate- to well-drained soil types, such as loams and “sandy” soils. Throughout much of the Whereas sunflowers can be grown on other soil types, their Southeast, dove fields tradi - growth rates and seed yields on less suitable soils are often less tionally have been planted than when grown on ideal soils. Also, sunflowers do not tolerate in one or more grain crops prolonged wet conditions and should not be planted on low-lying such as corn, sorghum, mil - flood-prone sites. In cases of marginal sites where field conditions lets, wheat, and sunflowers. may become too wet, “hipping” or “bedding” can help improve Although the concept of drainage and create more suitable growing conditions. planting sunflowers to at - tract doves is nothing new, their use as a dove field crop has been limited over the years. However, when environmental conditions permit, a well-managed stand of sunflowers can be Mourning Dove one of the most productive dove fields in the Southeast. Sunflower growth and yield depend on many variables, including seed variety, site selection, planting dates, Soil type is a key component for good sunflower production. seed bed preparation and planting methods, fertiliza - Additional Resources & Structure tion, and weed control. The Site proximity to additional resources and accommodating struc - goal of this publication is to tures will enhance a field’s attraction to doves. Doves detect food help you customize a dove by sight, so locate fields adjacent to tree lines or power lines field program and provide where they tend to perch. This will make it easier for the doves the latest research findings to find seeds scattered throughout the sunflower field. Addition - on sunflower varieties and ally, such structures provide necessary loafing and resting areas management strategies that A well-managed stand of sunflowers can close to a food source. Lastly, doves prefer feeding locations within will enhance dove hunting be one of the most productive dove fields 1 mile of watering sites and sources of grit (small gravel and sand on your property. in the Southeast. needed for grinding seeds). One method for providing grit on- site is to maintain strips of bare soil in sunflower fields. A nearby Note: Sunflowers in the milk or dough maturity stage are sus - gravel road can provide an additional source of grit. ceptible to depredation by white-tailed deer. Thus, in areas with high deer densities, it may be difficult to produce a good seed crop. Site Selection Site selection plays an important role in creating successful dove A group of mourning fields. However, potential for crop production and yield success doves perch on a is only one component of selecting a dove field site. In addition powerline adjacent to an ample food supply, other site characteristics, such as prox - to agricultural fields. imity to water, availability of perching and loafing areas, and field size, contribute to a site’s potential for attracting and “holding” n n 4 n n Field Size The recommended minimum acreage for establishing a dove field As mentioned previously, sunflowers can be grown on “beds” or is about 5 acres. A 5-acre field with good seed production will “hips.” In addition to improving drainage, raised rows also warm usually attract enough birds to provide hunting opportunities, at faster and can allow earlier planting in more northern climates. least for the first few weeks of the hunting season. Also, keep in Newly hipped rows will require at least one rain before planting. mind that fields need to be large enough to provide a safe hunting They should then be conditioned the same day as planting using environment. As a general rule, an acre of field per hunter is ad - a spring tooth harrow or bed roller. Established beds can be used equate, but this may vary depending on the shape of the field and for multiple years and will only require a burndown herbicide ap - the lay of the land. plication before planting. Note: When hunting a field, always be aware of your position in relation to other hunters, public roads, residential areas, and live - stock. Field Preparation Sunflower fields can be established using either conventional or no-till planting methods. For conventional tillage, a firm seedbed is required. Achieve a firm seedbed by disking and then cultipack - ing or rolling. If firming equipment is not available, then disking should occur 2 to 4 weeks before planting to allow the soil to set - tle. A good rain can then firm the seedbed. Any weed growth be - tween tillage and planting can be controlled using a non-selective burndown herbicide (e.g., glyphosate) at planting. A harrow can be used for soil conditioning before planting. Use of no-till planting equipment requires only a burndown ap - plication before planting. Depending on weed pressure and Planting Dates growth, burndown can be done 2 to 4 weeks before planting. Recommended planting dates for sunflowers range from early April through early June. For dove fields, choose your planting date so that seed maturity will coincide with the desired hunting opportunities. For example, black-oil sunflowers mature in about 100 to 120 days, so a mid-April planting date will provide mature seed in mid-August. If the objective is to have an opening-day hunt (around September 1 in most southeastern states), following these guidelines will allow for 2 to 3 weeks of dove field prepara - tion before opening day. A burndown herbicide is applied before planting. Choose planting dates so that seed maturity coincides with dove hunting opportunities. Based on historic weather data, April 10–20 is an ideal planting time for sunflowers in Mississippi, but this date may vary depend - ing on your location in the Southeast. This planting date most closely coincides with favorable spring rain patterns and temper - atures throughout the state, while also providing ample time for seed maturity and field preparation before opening day of dove Sunflowers can be planted with most planting equipment, but a no-till seed drill is most commonly used. hunting season. n n 5 n n Soil temperatures above 55 °F are necessary for planting sunflow - Planting Equipment ers. However, soil temperatures at or above 65 °F are more favor - The two main types of planters commonly used for sunflowers able. Sunflower seeds planted at a ¾-inch depth with sufficient soil are conventional plate planters and vacuum planters. Conven - moisture and soil temperatures of 65 °F or above should emerge tional plate planters have a wide range of plates and plate sizes less than 1 week after planting. available for common brands of planter equipment. As a result, some seed bags include plate size and number charts that corre - spond with certain brands of planter equipment.

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