The effect of different nitrogen application rates on yield and yield characteristics of some safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) in cukurova conditions

This study was carried out in Çukurova ecological conditions in 2019 growing period at the experimental areas of Çukurova University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Field Crops. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of different nitrogen rate applications on yield and yield characteristics of some safflower cultivars. The experimental design was split plot with four different N rates in the main plots; in the sub-plots were the three safflower varieties. Nitrogen fertilizer was applied to 3 different safflower varieties (Göktürk, Hasankendi and Asol) in 4 different rates (0, 50, 100 and 150 kg/ha). According to the results; it was found that the oil yields of varieties varied between 599 and 688 kg/ha. The tallest plants with an average value of 75.1 cm were obtained by applying 100 kg N ha–1. Asol showed the highest plant height value (75.2 cm). Maximum number of capitula per plant (31.8) was observed in plots that received 10 kg N ha-1 and Asol yielded the highest values for number of capitula per plant (30.7). For the oil content and oil yield of safflower varieties, there was no significant difference among nitrogen application rates. It can be concluded that Hasankendi cv. could be promising in safflower cultivation uner region conditions in terms of higher oil yield and oil ratio.