Effects of super absorbent application on yield and phonological traits of safflower cultivars in delay and spring sowing time at rain fed conditions in Sanandaj, Iran

In order to study the effects of sowing date and super absorbent polymer application on yield and agronomic traits of safflower cultivars under rain fed conditions, an experiment was conducted using a split-split plot layout in a randomized complete block design with three replications in Sanandaj region. Two planting dates of delay (a1) and spring (a2) sowing were compared in main plots. Two treatments of non-application (b1) and application (b2) of super absorbent polymer were assigned in subplots and three cultivars of Sina (c1), Faraman (c2) and Goldasht (c3) were applied as sub-subplots. Results showed that the phenology of safflower was significantly affected by sowing date. The longest developmental stages were recorded in delay sowing date. Super absorbent application had no significant effect on crop phenology. Effect of sowing date on capitula number per plant, seed yield, biological yield and protein yield was significant. delay sowing date was superior to spring sowing date with regard to seed yield and crop productivity. Super absorbent application significantly increased the number of capitula per plant, moreover in spring sowing date, application of super absorbent significantly increased biological yield as compared with non-application treatment. The greatest amount of seed yield among the studied genotypes was recorded by Faraman cultivar at the rate of 601.2 kg/ha. According to the results of this experiment, delay sowing of safflower in rain fed conditions is more recommended in comparison with spring sowing, and super absorbent application especially in spring sowing date can resulted in improvement of crop growth and yield. In addition to, Faraman cultivar was superior to other two cultivars with regard to productivity and yield under regional conditions of this experiment.