The effect of irrigation disruption and different fertilizers sources on yield and yield components of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.)

This experiment was done as split plot based on a randomized complete blocks design with three replications in the field of Urmia University, in 2015. The main plot was irrigation disruption at four levels including: full irrigation, irrigation disruption at heading, flowering and grain filling stages and different sources of fertilizer comprised of control, water spray, foliar application of Nano, chemical fertilizer, bio-fertilizer application and combined application of fertilizers [Nano + chemical + bio-fertilizer], were assigned as subplot. Results showed that in control plants under irrigation disruption at heading stage the capsule number per plant and oil yield was decreased 52.25 and 62.6 percent in compared to the plants treated with combined application of fertilizers and full irrigation. Normal irrigation and combined fertilizer treatments had maximum 1000-seed weight (44.33 g) and seed yield (2526.8 kg/ha) and the lowest of 1000-seed weight (34.7g) and seed yield (1032.9 kg/ha) were obtained in plants under irrigation disruption at heading stage and application of Nano fertilizer and control, respectively. The highest harvest index (42%) was detected in irrigation disruption at the grain filling stage and combined fertilizers, and the lowest (24.33%) was observed in irrigation disruption at flowering stage followed by bio-fertilizer application. Generally, result showed that irrigation disruption during the grain filling stage and application of combined fertilizers without any significant effect on yield led to a reduction water consumption on safflower farm.