Sunflower
Sunflower is a significant oil crop plant in terms of raw vegetable oil production due to the high rate of oil it contains (22-50%). Today, sunflower oil makes up for 12.6% of the world's raw vegetable oil production. Left after the oil is extracted, the oilcake contains high amounts of protein (32.3% with hulls, 46.8% without hulls). Thus, is it widely used in mixed feed production. Following soybean cake, it is the oil seed cake with the second highest amount of metabolized energy (2260 kcal/kg). 6.8% of world's oil seed cake production is compensated by sunflower.
The linoleic oil acid found in abundance in sunflower oil has the effect of fastening drying. Thus, it is very important in oil-paint production. Also, it is used in the production of paper, plastic, soap and cosmetic products as a raw material. Sunflower kernels are also roasted and consumed by people with pleasure. In addition, it is used as bird fodder. The leftover stems and seed shells are put to use as fuel wood. The ashes gained by burning the stems contain excessive amounts (36-40%) of potassium. These ashes are used as fertilizer by means of spreading them on the field. Also, the stems and receptacles of the sunflower are used in furfural extraction and paper production. Planted in a mix of plants such as soy and corn, sunflower is used in animal feeding as green fodder or silage.
