The present study was performed to estimate the possible sunflower relative yield loss, for 36 differents sowing dates for three distinct areas in São Paulo, Brazil: Piracicaba, Ribeirão Preto and Manduri. The "Agroecological Zone" method was used to estimate the potential yield, and the crop water balance was used to calculate the relative yield loss caused by water deficit, using the FAO method of Doorenbos & Kassam. It was used historical series of meteorological data ranging from 28 to 40 years to simulate crop-environment relationship. The results showed that in Piracicaba and in Ribeirão Preto, the risks of losses were minimized in sowing between October 11 and December 1st, when less than 10% of yield losses occurred in 90% of the years. Although, in these regions sunflower crop can be sowing until February 11 but with more than 10% losses increasing to 40% of probability. In Manduri, almost 85% of the years had crop yield losses lower than 10% when sowings were made between September 21 and January 11.
Helianthus annus; sowing date; water balance