Effect of seed hydropriming and irrigation regimes on grain, biological yield, harvest index, oil and protein content of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) cultivars

This experiment was conducted at the Agricultural Research Farm of Isfahan University of Technology in 2007-2008 to evaluate the effects of seed treatment and the levels of irrigation regimes on three safflower cultivars. A split plot factorial arrangement was used in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Main-plot consisted of three irrigation regimes (60، 105 and 140 mm cumulative evaporation from Class A pan) and sub-plot consisted of two seed treatments (control and hydropriming) and three safflower cultivars (Kuseh، PI and IL111) which had been performed in the form of factorial experiment. Regardless of the level of soil moisture and cultivar، the grain yield was 35% more in hydropriming than control. The grain yield was more at higher level of soil moisture and in Kuseh as compared with IL111 and PI. The oil percentage was higher in hydropriming compared to control and in Kuseh than in IL111 and PI. The oil percentage was significantly affected by the level of soil moisture. The oil percentage decreased as the level of soil moisture was reduced، but the protein percentage was increased as the level of soil moisture was reduced. Showed that to obtain the optimum yield from spring planting in areas with similar condition of this study the seed hydropiming compared to the seed control and Kuseh compared to IL111 and PI cultivars seems to be superior.