Effect of planting date on yield, yield components and oil content of different safflower cultivars (Carthamus tinctorius L.)

In order to study the effects of planting date on yield, yield components and oil content of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.), a field experiment was conducted in Research Station of Islamic Azad University–Branch of Birjand, in 2012. Experimental design was Randomized Complete Block that arranged as split plot. Planting date (16 Oct, 31 Oct, 15 Nov and 30 Nov) and cultivars (LRV, Zarghan and Isfahan) were arranged as main plots and sub plots, respectively. The results showed that planting delay from 16 October to 30 November reduced the number of heads per plant (38%), number of seeds per head (25.23%), biological yield (61.96%), grain yield (60.73%) and oil yield (20.61%). Number of grain per head, grain yield and harvest index were significantly affected by cultivars. LRV cultivar was the best for this traits. Whereas number of head per plant, 1000-grain weight, biological yield, oil content and oil yield were not significantly affected by cultivars. All of traits were significantly affected by interaction of planting dates and cultivars, exception oil content. On the base of these results, the first planting date (17 Oct) and LRV cultivar were the best for Birjand region (East of Iran).