EFFECT OF SOWING DATE ON SOME AGRONOMICAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL TRAITS OF SAFFLOWER (Carthamus tinctorius L.) IN NORTHERN TURKEY

This research was conducted to determine the effect of sowing dates on some agronomical and technological traits of safflower cultivars. The research was conducted in Samsun province of Turkey during 2017-2019 growing season with the use of 4 sowing dates (30 October, 14 November, 29 November and 14 December) and two safflower cultivars (Olas and Linas). Plant heights varied between 82.3 - 158.7 cm; number of heads per plant between 4.15 - 9.47; seed weights per head between 0.84 - 1.39 g; thousand seed weights between 34.65 47.69 g; seed yields per plant between 3.14 - 7.67 g; oil contents between 24.64 - 29.29% and oil yields per plant between 0.83 - 2.25 g. According to sowing date x cultivar interactions, the highest agronomical and technological traits of Olas cultivar were obtained from the 2nd sowing date and the highest values except for plant height and thousand seed yield of Linas cultivar were obtained from the 2nd sowing date. It was concluded based on present findings that the second sowing date (14 November) was more suitable for safflower cultivation in winter season in Samsun ecological conditions.