A field study was carried out in order to determine the effect of irrigation, water stress imposed at different development stages on seed yield, seasonal evapotranspiration (ET), crop-water relationships, oil yield and plant growth components of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) for winter sowing at Thrace Region in Turkey. The field trials were conducted on a loam Entisol soil, using cv. Dincer, the most popular variety in the region. A randomised complete block design with three replications was used. Three known growth stages of the plant were considered and a total of 8 (including rain fed) irrigation treatments were applied. Results of this study show that safflower is significantly affected by water shortage in the soil profile due to omitted irrigation during the sensitive vegetative stage. Highest yields were observed in the fully irrigated control. An evapotranspiration of 728 mm were calculated for non-stressed production for winter sowing. Safflower seed yield of this treatment was 4.05 ton per hectare.

crop growth stage, crop yield, drought, drought resistance,Entisols, evapotranspiration, growth, irrigation, plant development,plant water relations, safflower, safflower oil, safflower seed, soiltypes, stress, stress response, water deficit, water stress, Carthamustinctorius, Carthamus, Asteraceae, Asterales, dicotyledons, angiosperms,Spermatophyta, plants, eukaryotes, drought tolerance, watering, FieldCrops (FF005) (New March 2000), Plant Water Relations (FF062), PlantProduction (FF100), Environmental Tolerance of Plants (FF900), SoilWater Management (Irrigation and Drainage) (JJ800) (Revised June 2002)[formerly Soil Water Management]

• Journal Article

• Drought
• Irrigation Management