Effect of foliar application of Micro-nutrients on yield and yield components of safflower under conventional and ecological cropping systems

Abstract:Information regarding the effect of foliar application of zinc and manganese on the yield and yield components of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L. cv. Isfahan landrace) under conventional and ecological cropping systems is scarce. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted as split-plot based on Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications in 2011. Treatments were cropping systems (high, medium, low input and ecological cropping systems) as main plots and foliar application of micro-nutrients (no foliar application, 2000 ppm zinc chelate, 3000 ppm manganese chelate, 2000 ppm zinc chelate + 3000 ppm manganese chelate and water) as sub plots. Results of ANOVA showed significant effect of cropping system and foliar application on the number of seeds per head and number of heads per plant, and however significant interaction effect on 1000 seed weight, seed yield and biological yield. The highest 1000 seed weight (36.37 g), seed yield (4115.6 kg/ha) and biological yield (8175 kg/ha) were obtained from plants treated by zinc at high input cropping system. In all foliar sprays, there was a descending trend from along with decreasing inputs, so the minimum 1000 seed weight (20.76 g), seed yield (1540.3 kg/ha) and biological yield (3112.5 kg/ha) were obtained from ecological system. In conclusion, use of micronutrients, foliar application caused to improve the yield of safflower, especially in medium and low input systems.