Abstract
Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is an annual oil crop that belongs to the Asteraceae family. The experimental studies were conducted at two different research stations in the Kurdistan Regional of Iraq to determine various liquid NPK application methods on the growth, yield, and yield components of three safflower varieties. The experimental design was a complete block design under split-plot system with three replications. NPK application methods (Foliar, Fertigation, Foliar + Fertigation) and no fertilizer application are the main plots. While three safflower varieties (Iden, AL-Shamia, and Zaafarani) as sub-plots. Foliar NPK application had the highest dry matter yield and seed yield of 29.544ton ha-1 and 7.185ton ha-1, respectively, at the average of both locations. Zaafarani safflower variety recorded the maximum dry matter yield and seed yield of 22.204ton ha-1 and 4.794ton ha-1, respectively, at the average of both locations. However, the statistical analysis for both locations' average shows non-significant differences between Iden and Zaafarani varieties have the highest performance for seed yield under foliar NPK application. Based on the average effectiveness of the different methods of applying NPK and safflower varieties on most components of growth, yield, and yield components, the order was as follows: Foliar > Foliar + Fertigation > Fertigation > Control. While for safflower varieties, it was as follows: Zaafarani > Iden > AL-Shamia. The results indicated that the number of capitula plant-1 is an essential character in safflower's seed yield.
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