Effects of sowing date and irrigation treatment on safflower seed quality.

Field experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of sowing dates and irrigation on seed quality of a spring-type safflower cultivar, in Karaj-Iran, during 2008 and 2009 growing seasons. A split plot design based on a randomized complete block layout with three replications was used in which sowing dates and irrigation treatments comprised the main plot and sub-plot, respectively. The results showed the highest oil yield, oil content, protein yield, and linoleic acid content of safflower seed for sowing date of 19th of April and under non-water stress conditions. The highest seed protein, oleic acid, and palmitic acid contents were obtained for sowing dates of May 5th and 20th along with ceasing irrigation at heading, flowering, and seed filling stages, respectively. Under arid and semiarid Mediterranean conditions prevailing in Karaj, late sowing date led to a greater simultaneity of reproductive stages and higher temperature, which made the negative effect of water stress more prominent than in the early sowing dates.