Abstract:
Despite importance of safflower in the world, this crop has
received only little research attention in Sudan. Therefore, a field experiment
was conducted at the College of Agricultural Studies, Sudan University of
Science and Technology in Khartoum, during winter season in 2010/2011 and
2011/2012, to study the effects of sowing date, irrigation intervals and
fertilizers on seed , and oil yield, of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.).The
cultivar used was Geeza. The experiment designed in split-split plot
arrangement, with four replications. The main plots were two sowing dates on
13th (S1) and on 28th November (S2). Subplots were three irrigation intervals
(7, 14 and 21 days) and sub-subplots were three types of fertilizer (urea 190
kg ha−1, compound fertilizer (pellet granules) 250 kg ha−1 and farm yard
manure 4800 kg ha−1).
Growth parameter which studied were plant height, stem diameter , number of
leaves / plant ,number of branches / plant, leaf area index and plant
population. In addition, yield components were, number of seeds / head,
thousand seed weight ,seed yield, pigment yield ,shoot dry weight , harvest
index , oil , protein and fiber content,
The general trend was that sowing date had significant effect
on all growth parameters in two seasons, also on seed, pigment yield and
shoot dry weight. Irrigation intervals displayed significant difference on
plant height, stem diameter, leaf area index, seed yield and harvest index in
season one, pigment yield and oil content in season two.
Generally application of fertilizers resulted in significant affect on plant
height and oil content in both seasons.
