The effect of nitrogen fertilization, sowing rates and site on yields and yield components of selected varieties of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.)

Abstract

Field trials were conducted at two sites Troubsko near Brno and Prague-Ruzynì in 19961999 with three varieties of safflower (Gila, Sironaria). Three rates of nitrogen fertilization were used: N 0 = no fertilization, N 1 = 40 kg.ha 1 , N 2 = 80 kg.ha 1 . Sowing rates were 50 and 70 germinable seeds per m 2 . The average values of oil content were highest in seeds of CW-74 variety (27.2%). Gila had on average the lowest oil content (24.5%). Linoleic acid was dominant in all three safflower varieties. Variation in content of linoleic acid in different years was not so high as in oil content. The highest average content of linoleic acid was found in Gila variety (81.2%), the lowest in Sironaria (77.4%). At Ruzynì average seed yield on dry basis was 2.7 t.ha 1 and average straw yield was 7.56 t.ha 1 . At Troubsko seed yield was 2.56 t.ha 1 and straw yield was 3.69 t.ha 1 (by 50% lower than at Ruzynì). The effect of year of growing and site on seed yields and on other parameters was highly significant. N fertilization increased safflower seed yield at Troubsko site only, where the dose of 40 kg.ha 1 N increased the yield by 0.08 t.ha 1 on average of years and the dose of 80 kg.ha 1 N increased the seed yield by 0.2 t.ha 1 in comparison with no nitrogen fertilization treatments. Increased N rates and especially higher plant density resulted in an increase in straw yields. Neither were thousand seed weight nor number of flower heads influenced significantly by different N rates or the above-mentioned differences in plant density.Keywords: safflower; N fertilization; sowing rate; yields; yield structure Developmental trends in neighbouring countries of Western Europe and in this country indicate that in European agriculture there exists overproduction in the plant production sector aimed at food supplies. Agriculture in Western countries has already suggested a new trend when besides traditional crops for food use alternative crops for non-food use start expanding. This trend must be accepted in the agriculture of Czech Republic too. Taking into account continuous development of agriculture we will have to adopt innovations that are more radical in a farming system. One of the possibilities is to grow alternative crops such as safflower.Safflower production was tested in field conditions in the Research Institute of Crop Production at PragueRuzynì in cooperation with the Forage Crop Research Institute Troubsko. Field trials were conducted in 19961999 to study the effect of soil and climatic conditions, sowing rate and different N fertilization on yields and yield structure in three safflower varieties. MATERIAL AND METHODSField trials were carried out at two different sites (Troubsko near Brno, Prague-Ruzynì) in 19961999. Site conditions at experimental localities are shown in Table 1. Weather conditions at both sites in the experimental period in comparison with long term average are shown in Tables 2 and 3. Cultural practicesGrain crop was a forecrop for safflower at both sites and in all years of observation. ...

THE EFFECTS OF NITROGEN AND ZINC APPLICATIONS ON THE YIELD, YIELD COMPONENTS AND OIL RATIO OF SAFFLOWER (Carthamus tinctorius L.) UNDER SEMI-ARID CONDITIONS

“…The highest number of seeds per head by the nitrogen fertilization increased seed yield per plant, and therefore contributed positively to the seed yield per hectare in the trial. Strasil and Vorlicek (2002); Singh and Singh (2013) and Eryigit et al (2015) reported that the nitrogen fertilization increased yield was consistent with our research results. As the Zn3 application gave the highest number of seeds per head (15.6 pcs head -1 ) in the first year, there were no statistically significant differences between the applications in the second year.…”

“…It was reported by many researches that the nitrogen fertilizer affected on the safflower growth, yield and quality properties significantly (Ahmed et al, 1985;El-Nakhlawy, 1991;Ibrahim, 1994). N fertilization increased seed yield (Strasil and Vorlicek, 2002); 300, 600 and 900 kg ha -1 N applications according to the control plots increased the biomass of safflower by 13.4%, 15.3% and 22.9% respectively (Haghighati, 2010). Nitrogen was effective on the vegetative and reproductive stages of safflower (Bitarafan et al, 2011); nitrogen applications increased seed yield 44.6-60.5% on average compared to the control plots (Singh and Singh, 2013); seed yield, 1000 seed weight, number of heads per plant and plant height were affected positively (Eryigit et al, 2015), and plant height and seed yield were increased ( the nitrogen fertilization.…”

The influence of TDZ concentrations on in vitro growth and production of secondary metabolites by the shoot and callus culture of Lallemantia iberica

“…Its seed production in some regions of world, especially some European countries (Overeem et al 1999), faces the alterations in environmental conditions during the growth period due to relatively unsteady wet climates (Van Soest et al 1987;Strasil and Kas 2005). In addition, the influence of planting dates on growth, yield and chemical components was recently reported (Badawy et al 2013).…”

Modeling the Influence of Nitrogen Rate and Plant Density on Seed Yield, Yield Components and Seed Quality of Safflower

“…However, over-fertilization and insufficient fertilization lead to economic losses and discharge an excessive amount of nitrogen in the nitrate form through washing [6]. Therefore suggestions for fertilizers with nitrogen should be made so as to ensure a highquality product, optimum yield, high profit and less environmental pollution risks [7].…”