Effect of Sowing date, Irrigation Intervals and Fertilization On Growth, Seed and Oil Yield of Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L),

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.