The effect of simultaneous cropping on agronomic characteristics of spring safflower cultivars (Cartamus tinctorius L.) in Aran and Bidgol region

In order to the effect of Simultaneous Cropping on agronomic characteristics of spring safflower cultivars (Cartamus tinctorius L.) in Aran and Bidgol region, this study was carried out in field of Kashan city of Esfahan province in 2013. A factorial arrangement of treatment in a randomized complete block design with three replications was used. Spring safflower cultivars (V1= Faraman, V2= Goldasht, V3= Esfahan local, V4= Soffeh) and Simultaneous cropping treatment, (S1= Cultivation of safflower + chickpea, S2= Cultivation of safflower + alfaalfa, S3= Cultivation of safflower + onion, S4= Cultivation of safflower) were assigned in plots. Each sub plot consisted of 4 rows, 5 m long with 60 cm between rows space and 4 cm between plants on the rows was used. In this study characteristics such as: days to bolling, number of branches, weight of boll, number of grain per plant, grain yield in plant, grain yield in m-2, biological yield, harvest index and alfalfa biomass were assessed. Results indicated that the effect of safflower cultivars on the characteristics such as: days to bolling, weight of boll, number of grain per plant, grain yield in plant, grain yield in m-2 and harvest index was significant. Effect of Simultaneous cropping treatment on the characteristics such as: weight of boll and biological yield was significant, too. The maximum and minimum of harvest index (33.31 and 26.52 %) were obtained with the Esfahan local and Soffeh cultivars, respectively.