Seed productivity, oil content and accumulation of macronutrients in safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) genotypes in subtropical region

The objective of this study was to evaluate eighteen genotypes of safflower and their absorption of macronutrients in an experiment conducted in the western region of the state of Paraná.The experiment was conducted under humid subtropical climate on Typic Hapludox soil with very clayey texture.The treatments were carried out in randomized blocks with four replications.The following traits were evaluated: shoot dry mass production, seed yield, shoot and seed macronutrient accumulation, and oil production.Data were submitted to analysis of variance and the means compared by Scott-Knott test at 5%.The mean seed yield was 4,531.8kg ha -1 and the mean oil content was 26%.The descending order of safflower macronutrient uptake was N > K > Ca > P > Mg > S, in all genotypes, and macronutrient export was N > P > K > Mg > S > Ca.Mobility of macronutrients extracted from seeds was low for K and Ca, medium for Mg and S, and high for N and P. The genotypes with higher average yield were less efficient in their utilisation of nutrients.