EFFECT OF ROW SPACING ON GROWTH AND YIELD TRAITS OF SAFFLOWER ( CARTHAMUS TINCTORIUS L.)

In two different locations - the Badush Dam area and the College of Agriculture and ForestryUniversity of Mosul, Iraq - a field experiment commenced in the winter of 2021-2022 to investigate how planting distances between lines at 30, 45, and 60 cm affect the growth and productivity characteristics of safflower cultivars (Gilla, Almais, and Urdine). The experiment with a randomized complete block design used two parameters. The outcomes showed significant differences between planting distances in most read -up attributes for both regions. A planting distance of 30 cm gave the most essential impetus for the height of a plant in the Badush Dam region. Moreover, both regions recorded the highest rate for seeds/capitula from a planting distance of 45 cm and the maximum rate for branches/plant, leaf area, 1000 -seed weight, seed yield, oil content (%), and oil yield, and capitula/plant only in the college region. In both experimental sites, the varieties substantially impacted every trait under study. The highest values emerged for the Gilla variety for the 1000 -seed weight at both sites. The utmost rates showed for the plant height, branches/plant, leaf area, capitula/plant, seeds/capitula, seed yield, and percentage of oil for the Almais variety. Moreover, the oil yield regarding branches/plants in the kidney site, leaf area in the dam site, and seed yield in both sites revealed a significant interaction between the Almais variety and the planting distance of 60 cm.