The influence of agronomic practices on the yield and oil content of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) in the Wimmera region of Victoria

Abstract

Between 1970 and 1972 three experiments were conducted in the Wimmera region of Victoria to investigate the effect of time of sowing, weed control, seeding rate and row spacing on the yield and oil content of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius). June sowing produced the best yields, although on occasions May or July sowings yielded equally well. There were large yield responses to weed control and seeding rates of at least 17 kg ha-1 were necessary. Higher yields were obtained from a row spacing of 0.18 m than from one of 0.36 m. Oil content was not affected by any experimental variable and showed little variation between the three years.