Effect of Sowing Dates on Seed Yield, Oil Yield and Economics of Different Safflower Genotypes

In order to investigate the “Effect of Sowing Dates On Seed yield, Oil Yield and Economics Of Different Safflower Genotypes”, an experiment was conducted on a split plot design with 4 replications during the year 2015-16 at AICRP on Safflower, VNMKV, Parbhani (M.S.). The experiment consisted of 9 treatment combinations comprising 3 dates of sowing (15th October, 30thOctober and 15th November) as main plots and 3 cultivars (Annigiri-1, NARI-6 and NARI-57) as subplots. The study revealed that, sowing date affected the seed yield and oil yield. The sowing of safflower during first fortnight of October i.e. 15th Oct. gave the highest seed yield. The oil yield of safflower also found significantly superior under 15th Oct. followed by30th October date of sowing. The yield of safflower decreases as the crop sown at an interval of fifteen days after second date of sowing. Similar results were also obtained in gross monetary returns, net monetary returns and B: C ratio. Significantly higher seed yield was observed by variety Annigeri-1 (1019 kg ha-1) followed by NARI-57 (956 kg ha-1) and lowest seed yield was recorded with NARI-6 (857 kg ha-1). Similar trend was also observed in respect of GMR, NMR and B:C ratio. Interaction effect on seed, oil yield, oil content, GMR, NMR and B:C ratio was found non significant.