EFFECTS OF HUMIC ACID AND IRON APPLICATIONS ON THE YIELD, SOME PLANT CHARACTERISTICS AND OIL RATIO OF SAFFLOWER (Carthamus tinctorius L.)

This study was conducted to determine the effects of humic acid and iron applications on seed yield, some plant characteristics and oil ratio of Remzibey-05 safflower cultivar under Harran Plain conditions in the 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 growing seasons. The experiment was carried out in randomized complete block split plots design with three replications. The main plots were humic acid (HA) applications (0, 60 g ha(-1), 120 g ha(-1), 180 g ha(-1)), and the sub-plots were iron (Fe) applications (0, 12.5 kg ha(-1), 25 kg ha(-1) and 37.5 kg ha(-1)). Humic acid was sprayed onto the leaves and iron was applied to the soil when the plants were leading the stage of 4-5 leaves. The highest seed yield, number of heads per plant and dry petal yield per plant were obtained from 120 g ha(-1) humic acid and 12.5 kg ha(-1) Fe applications. The highest number of seeds per head was obtained from 180 g ha(-1) HA and 12.5 kg ha(-1) Fe applications while biomass yield was from 60 g ha(-1) HA and 25 kg ha(-1) Fe applications. In conclusion; 120 g ha(-1) humic acid and 12.5 kg ha(-1) Fe should be applied to increase seed yield, number of heads per plant and dry petal yield per plant in safflower agriculture under semi-arid climate conditions.