The effects of different sowing times on yield and some agriculturel characters of different phacelia (Phacelia tanacetifolia Bentham) cultivars

This study was conducted in the experimental area of East Mediterranean Agricultural Research Station in 2011-2012 growing season to investigate the effects of six different sowing times (10, 20 and 30 November, 10, 20 and 30 December) on the some phenological and seed yield characters of two Phacelia tanacetifolia cultivars. Field trials were arranged in the complete randomized split-plot design with three replications cultivars as main plot, sowing times as sub-plots. In this study the following phenological and yield characters was determined; days to emergence, the first, %50 and full flowering time, plant height, number of flower and spike secondary stem, 1000- seed weight, seed weight, per plant and seed yield. As a result, it was determined that effects of sowing times were significant for all characters studied except for days to emergence, number of flower and 1000- seed weight while the effect of cultivars were not significant. When considering the values obtained, days to emergence ranged from 19.33 to 20.17 days, days to the first, %50 and full flowering ranged from 107.17 to 148.17 days, 112.00 to 153.67 days and 115.17 to 159.17 days, respectively. Also, plant height ranged from 75.75 to 90.67 cm, number of flower ranged from 258.27 to 327.67 number of spike from 9.43 to 16.10, number of secondary stem 6.20 to 9.77, 1000-seed weight from 2.00 to 2.33 g, seed weight, per plant and seed yield ranged from 3.30 to 5.80 g and from 28.00 to 41.68 g, respectively. According to the results obtained, it is appeared that, in general, early sowings were superior to late ones in terms of characters studied, also that the longer flowering period were reached by various sowing times extending from early October to late December. Also, thanks to gaining more seed yield form early sowings, it is possible to make phacelia production as more sustainable manner. Keywords: Phacelia (Phacelia tanacetifolia Bentham), cultivar, sowing time, yield components