DETERMINATION OF OPTIMUM SOWING DATES OF SAFFLOWER (CARTHAMUS TINCTORIUS L.) IN DRY CONDITIONS

This study was conducted in three years 2009-2010 and 2011 under the ecological conditions of Konya possessing all characteristics of dry conditions of the Central Anatolia Region and being responsible 10 % of Turkey's safflower sowing area. The effects of 15 February, 1 March, 15 March, 1 April, 15 April and 1 May sowing dates on safflower cultivars (Dincer and Remzibey-05) were investigated. Field experiments were conducted in a randomized complete block design as a slit plot with four replications at the Turkey Konya Bahri Dagdas International Agricultural Research Institute farms. As the sowing date delaying, number of days to %50 emergence decreased but the emergence was negatively affected due to the decreasing rainfall. February and March months were the best sowing dates for yield and oil content. Effects of the sowing dates in the years on the yield were determined visually according to Biplot method.