Sunflowers and their mark on the land of sun and wind

(Baonghean.vn) - In Greek mythology, there was a girl named Clytie who secretly loved the Sun God Helios. Clytie's love was so great that she could not do anything all day but spend her time watching Helios riding his chariot across the sky. After many days like that, Clytie transformed into a sunflower with flowers facing the sun. That is the origin of the sunflower.

Sunflower hill in Nghia Dan

Not a myth, but the sunflower coming to Phu Quy land (Nghia Dan - Nghe An) is also a story with many spiritual meanings. The idea of ​​growing sunflowers as raw materials for dairy cows comes from extensive and serious research by scientists and leading agricultural engineers of TH Dairy Food Joint Stock Company. Sunflowers with inherent characteristics such as mildness, suitable for the soil, fertile and porous basalt land of Phu Quy. In particular, sunflowers with wonderful advantages bestowed by nature, have uses such as: sedation, blood tonic, blood pressure regulation, digestion stabilization, rich in fiber, sweetness... have created a scientific basis to become a nutritious and safe food source for dairy cows.

In 2010, TH Dairy Food Joint Stock Company conducted a trial of sowing sunflower seeds. Through the first season, it was shown that sunflowers have adapted well to Nghia Dan land. However, turning raw materials into food for dairy cows is another problem. What proportion of sunflowers should be mixed with other raw materials in the feed composition? What are the actual uses and especially are there any contraindications? A series of tests have been conducted over a long period of time. Fortunately, food and livestock engineers have found out. That is why the area of ​​sunflower fields is constantly expanding. This year's Autumn-Winter crop alone, TH Dairy Food Joint Stock Company has planted 30 hectares of sunflowers. Compared to other raw materials, sunflowers require more effort. Because sunflower seeds are small, the soil must be prepared very carefully to ensure that the soil is loose and porous. Requires soil lumps larger than 5cm in size with a ratio of less than 20%. The soil is plowed many times and plowed 20-25cm deep. According to the tested process, manure is applied at a rate of 10-20 tons/ha; NPK 15-15-16: 300kg/ha.

The water hose watering sunflowers in Nghia Dan has the ability to water a 450m area - Photo by Sy Minh

For non-irrigated land, sowing can be done from late April to October. If the land is actively irrigated, sowing can be done from February to November. Thus, it can be said that sunflowers can be sown almost all year round. And another important thing is that crop rotation is not carried out in adjacent areas to avoid the spread of pests if it can occur. Raw material plants in general, including sunflowers, are also cared for with microbial fertilizers researched, produced and processed by TH Company. This both ensures suitability for each type of plant on land with a specific climate and limits pests. Especially with a closed process, applying new and modern technical technologies in the direction that all stages are carried out from the beginning to the end by machinery. Currently, the crops of TH Dairy Food Joint Stock Company are watered automatically by robotic arms over 350m long. In addition, Israeli drip irrigation technology has also been applied, thereby improving crop productivity and output. Sunflowers alone yield over 50 tons/ha and contribute to balancing the food source to ensure quality for the nearly 40,000 dairy cows of TH Dairy Food Joint Stock Company.

As a miracle, sunflowers have been bringing a new look to Phu Quy land, giving TH Dairy Food Joint Stock Company's products unique quality and flavor. It is not only the richness of the Northwest region of Nghe An but also shows the rise of those who dare to think, dare to do and dare to succeed on this sunny and windy land.

Dao Tuan