Response of Safflower Genotypes to Different Fertilizer Levels: Response of Pre-Released Safflower (Carthamus Tinctorius L.) Genotypes to Different Fertilizer Levels

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is an important rabi oilseed crop. Safflower has a superior adaptability to scanty moisture conditions. It has been under cultivation in India either for it’s colored florets and much-valued oil. There is an urgent need to develop suitable management practices and genotypes to make safflower cultivation a successful proposition under the Marathwada region of Vertisols. In view of it was felt necessary to study the effect of the application of various fertilizer levels to different safflower genotypes under irrigated conditions. Consequently, the present research project entitled “Response of pre-released safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) genotypes to different fertilizer levels” was formulated Application of fertilizer levels F3 (90:60:00 kg NPK ha-1) and F2 (60:40:00 kg NPK ha-1) recorded significantly higher growth attributes, yield attributes, seed yield, straw yield, biological yield, oil yield, gross monetary returns and net monetary returns than the application of fertilizer level F1 (30:20:00 kg NPK ha-1). Among the safflower genotypes, genotype PBNS-12 (G7) recorded the yield.