Fertilización nitrogenada del girasol en suelos pardos con carbonatos de la región central de Cuba

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is an oil crop cultivated in several countries due to its high oil content. The strategy to satisfy human demand of vegetal oil in Cuba is strongly linked to sunflower crop expansion. This crop is grown since 1930 but the knowledge about it is still low. In that sense it's necessary to know the performance of cultivars developed by CIAP (Agricultural Research Center) in response to nitrogen fertilization. The aim of this study was to evaluate variety responses to nitrogen applications sown in brown soil of central region in Cuba. Achenes yield don't vary, oil content and oil yield are reduced and leaf area per plant is increased with highest dose of N applied (100 kg.ha -1 ). Organic matter content of soil and environmental conditions (temperature and humidity) let us suppose that annual mineralization produces N enough to fulfill sunflower nutritional demand. Our results validate sunflower expansion possibility as an oil source to satisfy demand of Cuba population.