Effect of foliar application of growth stimulants and their application time on yield and some agronomic characteristics of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.)

In order to investigate the effect of foliar application of growth stimulants and micronutrients elements on yield and yield components of safflower, this experiment was conducted as factorial arrangement in a randomized complete blocks design with three replications at Agriculture Research Station of Sa’atloo, in 2009-2010 cropping year. The primary factor consisted of five foliar application levels of growth stimulants (control without fertilizer, Daljin, Humus p.k, Hort Plus, Codamin 150) and the second factor consisted of two levels of foliar application time (emergence of the flower bud, emergence of the flower bud flowering).The results of analysis of data variance indicated that foliar application of growth stimulants had a significant difference on oil percentage, harvest index, grain yield, one-thousand grain weight, grain weight per plant, number of seeds per head and number of heads per plant and the effect of foliar application and foliar application time treatments on protein percentage was significant. The highest grain yield by average 2137 kilogram per hectare was related to Daljin treatment and the lowest amount of grain yield by average 1201 kilogram per hectare was related to control treatment without fertilizer. Maximum oil yield by average 557 kilogram per hectare was related to Daljin growth stimulant and the lowest oil yield by average 315 kilogram per hectare was related to control level. The highest protein yield by average 304 kilogram per hectare was related to Dalgin solution and the lowest amount by average 149/8 kilogram per hectare was related to control level. The results showed that spraying with Codamin 150 increased vegetative growth and Daljin increased yield in safflower.