Yield and yield components of safflower as influenced by genotype and plant density grown in the semi-arid conditions of Botswana

Two field experiments were carried out at the Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources in Southern Region of Botswana to evaluate the effects of plant density and genotypes on yield and yield components of safflower. The treatments were five safflower genotypes (Kiama composite (local), Sina-PI ۵۳۷۵۹۸, Gila -PI ۵۳۷ ۶۹۲, PI ۵۳۷ ۶۳۶ and PI ۵۲۷ ۷۱۰ and plant density (۶۲,۵۰۰, ۸۳,۳۳۳, ۱۰۰,۰۰۰, ۱۲۵,۰۰۰, ۱۶۶,۶۶۶ and ۲۰۰,۰۰۰). Increase in plant density from ۶۲,۵۰۰ to ۱۰۰,۰۰۰ plants/ha significantly (p < ۰.۰۰۰۱) increased vegetative growth, yield components and seed yield of safflower. As plant density increased above ۱۰۰,۰۰۰ plants/ha vegetative growth, yield and yield components significantly (p < ۰.۰۰۰۱) decreased in all genotypes both in winter or summer grown safflower. It was concluded that there is variation in the performance of safflower genotypes in response to increasing plant density and growing season, but optimum plant density to maximize safflower seed yield under Botswana conditions was ۱۰۰,۰۰۰ plants/ha (Botswana is ۴۰ cm x ۲۵ cm).Two field experiments were carried out at the Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources in Southern Region of Botswana to evaluate the effects of plant density and genotypes on yield and yield components of safflower. The treatments were five safflower genotypes (Kiama composite (local), Sina-PI ۵۳۷۵۹۸, Gila -PI ۵۳۷ ۶۹۲, PI ۵۳۷ ۶۳۶ and PI ۵۲۷ ۷۱۰ and plant density (۶۲,۵۰۰, ۸۳,۳۳۳, ۱۰۰,۰۰۰, ۱۲۵,۰۰۰, ۱۶۶,۶۶۶ and ۲۰۰,۰۰۰). Increase in plant density from ۶۲,۵۰۰ to ۱۰۰,۰۰۰ plants/ha significantly (p < ۰.۰۰۰۱) increased vegetative growth, yield components and seed yield of safflower. As plant density increased above ۱۰۰,۰۰۰ plants/ha vegetative growth, yield and yield components significantly (p < ۰.۰۰۰۱) decreased in all genotypes both in winter or summer grown safflower. It was concluded that there is variation in the performance of safflower genotypes in response to increasing plant density and growing season, but optimum plant density to maximize safflower seed yield under Botswana conditions was ۱۰۰,۰۰۰ plants/ha (Botswana is ۴۰ cm x ۲۵ cm).

کلیدواژه ها:

Carthamus tinctorius L. ، Plant population ، Seed yield ، Yield components ، Semi-arid conditions