Effect of Sowing Date on Seed and Oil Yields of Four Safflower Cultivars in Varamin Region of Iran

To study the effect of sowing data on seed and oil yields of safflower a field experiment was carried out in agricultural research station of Varamin in 2006 and 2007 growing seasons as split plot arrangement in randomized complete block design with four replications. Four sowing dates (06 November, 21 November, 06 December and 21 December) were assigned to main plots and four safflower cultivars (Local Isfahan, Goldashat (Il-111), Padideh (L.R.V. 5151) and Sina (PI.53.75.98)) were randomized in sub-plots. Combined analysis of variance showed that interaction effect of cultivar × sowing date was significant (P<0.01) on most of the traits except number of seed head-1. Mean comparisons revealed that Goldasht produced the highest seed yield (3395 kg ha-1), 1000 seed weight (40.6 g) and number of branches plant-1 (16.6). Local Isfahan variety had the highest days to flowering (191 days), oil yield (823.4 kg ha-1), head number plant-1 (39 head) in 21 November sowiong date.