Effect of different sowing dates on the seed yield and quality of safflower.

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.), is an important oil plant especially for arid and semiarid regions. The present study was carried out to determine the effect of different sowing dates on seed yield and quality in certain safflower cultivars grown in dry conditions of Konya in 2009. The field experiment was set up in a split plot design and five safflower varieties (Black Sun1, KS03, KS05, Remzibey 05 and Population) were assigned to the main plots and and five sowing dates (1 March, 15 March, 30 March, 15 April and 1 May) were assigned to the subplots. The results revealed that the effect of sowing dates, cultivar and sowing datex cultivar interaction on the seed yield, oil yield and protein yield were significant. On the other hand, cultivars showed significant effect on hull ratio, oil ratio and protein ratio. In general, delayed sowing date resulted in a marked decrease in seed yield and other yield values. The highest seed yield, oil yield and protein yield were obtained from first sown at March 1 (respectively, 1229.0 kg ha-1, 333.0 kg ha-1ve 229.0 kg ha-1) and at last sowing date (May 1), these yield values were decreased with respectively 47.7 % , 45.4 % and 50.7 % ratio compared to first sowing date. It is concluded that; in terms of seed and oil yield, the first sowing date, March the 1st, and the cultivar Remzibey 05 are the most suitable sowing time and cultivar for the region