Table 3
SWOT (Strengths – Weaknesses – Opportunities – Threats) chart for sunflower double-cropping in southwestern France.
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| Medium water requirements and moderate resistance to water stress | A small amount of irrigation is still required, especially for plant establishment |
| Irrigation costs are lower than for soybean | Yields remain limited (max 1.8 t.ha−1 in our trials) and observed commodity prices were variable |
| Certified seeds are expensive | |
| Post-harvest drying can be necessary | |
| Seldom possible in the North of Nouvelle-Aquitaine due to GDD requirements | |
| Late physiological maturity can create lodging, grain loss, head fungal diseases | |
| Opportunities | Threats |
| Requires less water than double crop soybean | Increase sclerotinia (and other fungal diseases) risks at the crop rotation level |
| Well-developed French sunflower sector | |
| Breeding programs in Europe for very early maturing cultivars groups |
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