Fertilizer improves seed and oil yield of safflower under tropical conditions

Abstract

a b s t r a c tSafflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) has gained importance as an oilseed crop due to its hardiness and oil, which can be used in the production of biofuels. Studying proper crop management methods is highly important for the development of safflower in Brazil, since applying fertilizers correctly and using the appropriate time are efficient ways to achieve higher yield. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate safflower yield components, seed yield and oil content in two growing seasons. Two experiments under dryland conditions were conducted in 2014 in Cascavel, PR, Brazil. A randomised complete block design with three replications was used. Five rates of NPK fertilizer were used (0, 200, 400, 600 and 800 kg ha −1 of N-P 2 O 5 -K 2 O formula 4-14-8) in two growing seasons (autumn and winter). Even in a Rhodic Acrudox with high concentrations of P and K, the application of NPK fertilizer in the furrow improved seed yield and oil yield in the autumnal growing season. Safflower seed yield averaged 2068 and 3820 kg ha −1 in autumn and winter, respectively. The application of NPK fertilizer to safflower in the autumnal growing season significantly increased oil content (23.9%). The linear plateau model predicted increased yield with NPK rates <652 kg and <610 NPK ha −1 , resulting in seed yield and oil yield of approximately 4374 kg ha −1 and 1048 kg ha −1 , respectively. Safflower seems promising as an alternative oilseed crop for Southern Brazil when seeded in autumn with basic fertilization.

Combining ability and heterosis in a diallel cross of safflower under Brazilian tropical conditions

“…Safflower production in Brazil is not remarkable, but current research has shown potential for cultivation (Sampaio et al., 2016; Santos, Bassegio, & Silva, 2017). Safflower could become an important crop in the Brazilian tropical conditions, which has a long dry period with high temperatures during the winter.…”

Phytometric and Productive Characteristics of Safflower Submitted to Phosphate Fertilization in the Oxisol of the Brazilian Cerrado

“…This annual crop from the Asteraceae family, to which the sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) belongs, originated somewhere between Asia and Africa [2] [3].…”

Initial growth and agronomic performance of some important North American safflower cultivars

“…Santos et al (2017) observed a variation of 2.6-4.3 g in the Southwest of Brazil. Sampaio et al (2016) observed the 100-grain weight to be 6.8 g in winter and 4.8 g in autumn when cultivating IAPAR. The 100-grain weight observed for the North American cultivars in the present study was lower than that in the registered Brazilian national cultivars, because the 100-grain weight is affected by the characteristics and genetic background of the plant (Braileanu et al, 2013).…”

“…Santos et al (2017) observed variation between 10 and 34 chapters for four cultivars in two types of soils. Sampaio et al (2016) observed 12 chapters in winter and 9 chapters in the autumn. The number of chapters per plant is affected by the spatial arrangement of plants, as evidenced by the fact that the number of chapters per area decreased with the increase in plant density, as reported by Vaghar et al (2014) and Sampaio et al (2017).…”

“…In addition to the safflower being an alternative for the winter crop, the resistance of the species to frost renders safflower useful for the late winter crop, between March and April, when the risk of frost makes it difficult to grow maize. Yields of over 2000 kg ha -1 have been recorded for national safflower cultivars under winter cultivation (IAPAR and IMAmt) in the Southwest region of Brazil (Santos et al, 2017;Santos et al, 2018) and South Brazil (Sampaio et al, 2016;Sampaio et al, 2017;Zanão Júnior et al, 2017). Brazil has promising climatic conditions for safflower cultivation in the winter; however, there is still a need to select species and cultivars in order to increase the yield in Brazil.…”