Quality Of Safflower Research Articles

Influence of Graded Levels of macro nutrients and Biofertilizers on Soil Health and Quality of Safflower in Vertisol


 An investigation was carried out at farm of College of Agriculture Nagpur Maharashtra during, 2011-2012 to evaluate the soil fertility and quality of safflower. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replication and nine treatments combination of FYM in Kharif season, biofertilizer and inorganic fertilizer at the time of sowing in rabi season using variety AKS/S-41. The result indicated that various physical properties as bulk density were decreases with increasing level of RDF with seed treatment Azospirillum + PSB and maximum water holding capacity increased with increasing level of RDF alone or in combination with Azospirillum + PSB. The changes in pH due to fertilizer application were significant. The changes in EC due to fertilizer (organic and inorganic) application were non-significant. The highest organic carbon, available NPK and S was recorded in the treatment of 100% RDF + Azospirillum + PSB and available Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu was recorded significantly highest in same treatment.

Initiation of safflower sowings in the organic farming system of Western Kazakhstan

We carried out the research in 2020–2021 in Western Kazakhstan on medium-loamy dark chestnut soils. The purpose of the research is to identify changes in physico-chemical, biological parameters of soil cover, productivity, and quality of safflower (Carthamus tincforius L.) under the influence of different technologies of agrarian landscape shaping, for rational management of organic agrocenoses. The field experiments showed that in the conditions of Western Kazakhstan, the use of the biologized technology of organic farming increases the yield of safflower in comparison with the traditional technology by 26.66–35.38%, with a high oil content of 30.0–39.95%. The phytoameliorative role of safflower in improving agrophysical, agrochemical, and biological parameters of dark chestnut soils is proved.

A rapid analysis method of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) using combination of computer vision and near-infrared.

The quality of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) in the market is uneven due to the problems of dyeing and adulteration of safflower, and there is no perfect standard for the classification of quality grade of safflower at present. In this study, computer vision (CV) and near-infrared (NIR) were combined to realize the rapid and nondestructive analysis of safflower. First, the partial least squares discrimination analysis (PLS-DA) model was used to qualitatively identify the dyed safflower from 150 samples. Then the partial least squares (PLS) model was used for quantitative analysis of the hydroxy safflower yellow pigment A (HSYA) and water extract of undyed safflower. Herein, the discrimination rate of PLS-DA model reached 100%, and the residual predictive deviation (RPD) values of the PLS models for HSYA and water extract were 2.5046 and 5.6195, respectively. It indicated that the rapid analysis method combining CV and NIR was reliable, and its results can provide important reference for the formulation of safflower quality classification standards in the market.

Improvement in seed quantity and quality of spring safflower through foliar application of boron and zinc under end-season drought stress

Seed yield and quality are affected by water stress occurring at the reproductive stage of crops. Foliar application of micronutrients has been introduced as an agronomic approach to cope with such conditions. This study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of born (B) and zinc (Zn) on seed quantity and quality of spring safflower under late season water deficit. The experimental design was a split factorial in an randomized complete block (RCB) with three replications. The results showed that water deficit during flowering and seed-filling significantly decreased almost all traits compared to control only in 2014. Averaged over the 2 years, seedling length and vigor index were increased by Zn in all irrigation regimes. Germination rate and seed weight were increased by B and Zn in all irrigation treatments. It was concluded that foliar application of 350 ppm B and 1000 ppm Zn can considerably enhance seed yield and quality of safflower grown under terminal drought.

CHANGES IN FATTY ACID AND PROTEIN OF SAFFLOWER AS RESPONSE TO BIOFERTILIZERS AND CROPPING SYSTEM

Intercropping and biofertilizer are thought to be strategies for reducing the risks of agricultural production and enhancing yield and quality in developing sustainable agriculture. Hence, two field experiments were carried out with factorial arrangement based on a randomized complete block design with three replications, to evaluate the effects of fertility and cropping systems on quality of safflower in 2015 and 2016. Treatments included nutrient levels (100% chemical fertilizers, 60% and 30% chemical + biological fertilizers and no fertilizer) and safflower and faba bean sole cropping, intercropping systems of them with ratios of 1:1 and 2:1. Results revealed that the integrated use of chemical and biofertilizers in intercropped plants caused to increasing yield components of safflower for both years. The highest unsaturated fatty acids, protein and oil content were achieved in 60% chemical plus biofertilizers. Also, between intercropping systems, ratio of 1:1 and the combinative application of chemical and biofertilizers had the highest land equivalent ratio. Values of actual yield loss showed an advantage of 20 to 98 % from intercropping due to recovery made by intercrops. Therefore, it was concluded that intercropping (safflower / faba bean) with integrated use of the reduced chemical and biological fertilizers, improved growth and quality of safflower.

Safflower's origin and changes of producing areas

Human's application of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) has a long history, but the origin remains unclear. Safflower was introduced into China for traditional Chinese medicine, and Sichuan was major producing area. However, in recent years, the main producing area is in Xinjiang province, in contrast Sichuan safflower is difficult to find. By reading relevant document literature and the production and marketing information of safflower, and having field investigation in the main producing areas, the origin of safflower and the reasons of producing areas' changes were explored. The origin of safflower is considered as the Fertile Crescent in reasonably. The change of producing areas in China is effected by the factors of natural environment and society. The suitability of producing areas and quality of safflower still need to study further.

Effect of magnesium sulphate on yield, economics and growth attributes of rainfed safflower (Carthamus tinctorious) in scarcity zone of Maharashtra

MgSO4 application showed significant influence on productivity and quality of safflower. Among the various treatments tested, application of MgSO4 @ 750 ppm at bud initiation (BI) and flower initiation (FI) recorded the higher seed yield (1143 kg/ha). The higher volume weight (728.4g/l) and 100 seed weight (6.04 g) was also observed under the same treatment. The effect of MgSO4 @ 750 ppm at BI and FI was also found significantly superior in terms of SPAD index, RLWC, LAI on A and leaf area. Application of MgSO4 @ 500 ppm was statistically at par with MgSO4 @ 750 ppm at BI and FI in many other parameters under study. Numerically higher net monitory returns (Rs. 17667/ha) and B: C ratio (2.14) was realized with application of MgSO4 @ 750 ppm at BI and FI.

Effect of Alternaria carthami on the yield, yield components and seed quality of safflower

Development of the disease Alternaria leaf blight (Alternaria carthaml) on safflower (cv. Gila) and its subsequent effect on yield, yield components and seed quality were assessed in the field at Biloela in central Queensland in 1976. Two seed types, one affected with A. carthami and the other healthy, were used. Seedlings from both were sprayed either with the fungicide mancozeb to control the disease or with an equivalent amount of water. Sprays were applied weekly from thinning, 3 weeks after planting, until maturity 21 weeks later. In the water treatments, the disease developed slowly from emergence in June to budding in early August, then rapidly during the period from late August to October as temperature and humidity increased. Repeated use of the mancozeb spray was more effective than the use of healthy seed in controlling the disease, as yields in the treatments sprayed with fungicide were similar. Yields in the diseased and healthy seed treatments sprayed with water were 44% and 57%, respectively, of the mean yield of the treatments sprayed with fungicide. Seed per tertiary head, and weight of secondary and tertiary seed, were most affected by the disease. In addition, oil and protein concentration were markedly depressed as were grain and volumetric weights. Differences in oil composition were not considered important.