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Growth, Yield, and Yield Components of Safflower as Affected by Irrigation Regimes
Author(s) -
Erie Leonard J.,
French Orrin F.
Publication year - 1969
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj1969.00021962006100010037x
Subject(s) - irrigation , yield (engineering) , agronomy , water content , moisture , environmental science , mathematics , zoology , biology , chemistry , materials science , metallurgy , geotechnical engineering , organic chemistry , engineering
Three to nine irrigations were given in eight irrigation treatments of fall‐planted Frio safflower. Irrigations were given when 60 or 72% of the available water in the top 120 cm of soil was depleted. Five different irrigation cutoff dates were compounded on the soil moisture depletion treatments, ranging from 3 weeks before first blossoming until harvest. The yield of safflower seed increased with each increment of irrigation water to a maximum yield obtained with seven irrigations given until the last blossoms opened (3,961 kg/ha). Consumptive use for this treatment was 107 cm of water. When the last irrigation was given at the first flowering date, seed yield was reduced over 800 kg/ha. Giving the last irrigation about 10 days before blossoming reduced yields nearly one‐half. Weight per seed, oil content, and seeds per head also increased with irrigations up to seven, and the percentage of hollow seed decreased. The seven‐irrigation regime also resulted in the greatest yield per centimeter of water used by the plant. The level of moisture depletion before irrigation had no significant effect on any of the factors studied.