Herbicide impacts on bee pollination and yield interactions in sunflower production

Oleksandr Dobrenkyi
Received: 10.06.2025 Revised: 02.10.2025 Accepted: 29.10.2025
Retrieved from Vol. 28, No. 11, 2025 Pages: 47-57
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Abstract

This study aimed to quantify and compare the effects of soil-applied and post-emergence herbicide programmes on bee visitation and seed yield of sunflower hybrids under contrasting seasonal conditions in the Eastern Steppe of Ukraine. Field experiments were conducted during 2022-2024 in Vasylivka (Dnipropetrovsk region), using three hybrids (Biloba CLP, NK Neoma, Suvex), a hand-weeded control, two soil-applied programmes (Primextra TZ Gold + Yastryb; Eclipse + Filder) and several post-emergence options (Helianthex, Stels, Challenge, Pulsar Flex, Granstar) applied according to label instructions. Managed colonies were stocked at 5 hives ha-1 with standardised flight distance. Pollinator activity during anthesis was monitored using 24 GoPro cameras (10:00-12:00; four days; three replicates) and expressed as visits head-1 10 min-1, while yield (t ha-1 at 7% moisture) was assessed post-harvest. Weather conditions varied markedly, including severe drought in 2024. The control treatment recorded the highest bee visitation (mean 6.11 visits head-1 10 min-1). Soilapplied programmes reduced visitation by 29-56%, with the smallest decrease under Primextra TZ Gold + Yastryb (-29%) and the largest under Eclipse + Filder (-56%). Post-emergence treatments reduced visitation by 33-86%; Challenge (0.4  L  ha-1) had the least impact (-33%), whereas Helianthex (45  g  ha-1) showed the greatest reduction (-82%). Visitation was strongly influenced by year (≈4.5-5.0 in 2022-2023 vs 1.28 in 2024). Yield responses partially diverged: among soil-applied options, Eclipse + Filder showed the smallest mean reduction (-0.31 t ha-1; -8%), followed by Primextra TZ Gold + Yastryb (-0.35 t ha-1; -9%); among post-emergence options, Stels performed best (-0.58 t ha-1; -15%), outperforming Challenge (-0.76 t ha-1; -20%) and Helianthex (-27%). Overall, soil-applied herbicides were associated with lower risk to pollinator activity and yield compared with post-emergence ALS/imidazolinone chemistries, while drought exerted a dominant limiting effect on both processes. Integrating pollinator-sensitive herbicide selection with seasonal risk management may help sustain ecosystem services and productivity

Keywords

sunflower; bee visitation; herbicide programs; pollinator attractiveness; yield

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Dobrenkyi, O. (2025). Herbicide impacts on bee pollination and yield interactions in sunflower production. Scientific Horizons, 28(11), 47-57. https://doi.org/10.48077/scihor11.2025.47