Effect of different sowing windows and genotypes on growth and yield of safflower under Vidarbha

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Oilseed research unit, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola during rabi season 2022-23 with an object to find out suitable sowing date for safflower crop under Vidarbha climatic condition. The experimental site was fairly uniform in topography with clayey in texture and slightly alkaline in reaction. It was low in available nitrogen, medium in available phosphorus and rich in potash with moderate organic carbon. The experiment was laid out with twelve treatment combinations in split plot design with three replications. Main plot consists of four sowing dates (S) viz. sowing in 39th MW (S1), 41th MW (S2) , 43th MW (S3), 45th MW (S4) and sub plot consist of three varieties namely AKS-207 (V1), PKV-Pink (V2) and AKS-351 (V3). The differences were significant among all the sowing dates and varieties in respect of the growth and yield parameter. Growth attributes viz. plant height, number of branches plant-1, number of leaves plant-1, leaf area plant-1, and dry matter accumulation plant-1 and yield attributes such as seed weight plant-1 (25.1 and 26.1 g) as well as seed (2162 and 1945 kg ha-1), straw (5592 and 4651 kg ha-1) and biological yield (7754 and 6596 kg ha-1) were significantly higher with treatment 41st MW (S2) sowing and variety AKS-351 (V3). Significantly higher uptake of nitrogen (76.8 & 67.0 kg ha-1), phosphorous (21.6 & 18.3 kg ha-1), potassium (71.22 & 58.46 kg ha-1) and higher available N (178.09 & 175.51 kg ha-1), P (21.99 & 22.61 kg ha-1) and K (459.70 & 456.01 kg ha-1) in soil after harvest of crop reported by treatment 41st MW (S2) sowing and variety AKS-351 (V3).