EFFECT OF PLANTING ARRANGMENT ON SEED YIELD AND ITS COMPONENTS OF FALL SAFFLOWER

To determine the best planting row space, seed and plant densities of fall safflower, an experiment was carried out in East Azarbaijan Research Center for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Iran (46º and 2″ E, 37º and 58″ N) with using Padideh cultivar during 2010-11. A factorial experiment including 3 row space levels (24, 36 and 48 cm) and 4 seed rates (15, 20, 25 and 30 Kg h-1) based on randomized complete block design with 3 replications, was used. The results indicated that plants in 36 cm row space had more leaves during cold season. Also plants in plots with 20 and 25 Kg h-1 seed density, indicated higher plant height. The performance of combin harvesting of taller safflower plants, is high. The most seed and oil yields with 4420 and 1369 Kg h-1 respectively, were achieved from 24 cm row space and 25 Kg h-1 seed density respectively. In same row space, plants of 30 Kg h-1 seed density treatment, located in second level and plants in 36 cm row space and 25 Kg h-1 seed density, indicated the third rank. The 24 and 36 cm row spaces with having 80 to 104 plants per m2, indicated acceptable yield. It seems that, density between 80 to 104 plant per m-1 with 24 cm row space and 25 to 30 Kg h-1 seed amounts, can be better for fall cultivation of safflower.