In the state’s dry, nutrient-deficient soil, CU Boulder researchers and others aim to learn if the crop can survive and even thrive in a hotter, drier future.
Venture through Colorado’s Front Range during the summer months and you’ll likely spot vibrant yellow sunflowers growing wherever they can, like a thin crack in the sidewalk or along the edge of a bustling highway. Head east toward Denver International Airport and you’ll find entire fields of them.
Soon, you may be seeing even more of these cheery blooms throughout the Centennial State.
As the planet gets hotter and drier, farmers in Colorado may lean more heavily on commercial sunflowers to help hedge against the effects of human-caused climate change. These hardy plants don’t need as much water as other crops, nor as many inputs like fertilizer.
Read more at University of Colorado at Boulder
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