SAFFLOWER

Botanical name: Carthamus tinctorius

Family: Compositae/Asteraceae

Chromosome number 2n = 24

ICAR- Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research, Hyderabad

ICAR-AICRP on Sunflower, Safflower, Castor, Hyderabad
 Safflower is an ancient oilseed crop grown in India for the orange
red dye (Carthamin) extracted from its bright coloured florets as
well as seed oil.
 Due to the availability of synthetic dyes at present, it is used for
extraction of oil only.
 The cultivated Carthamus tinctorius is supposed to have originated
either from Carthamus lanatus - Saffron thistle, Carthamus
oxycantha- Wild Safflower
 Safflower was known to ancient India and the poet laurate Kalidas
compared safflower to the “sakhis of Shakuntala” as Kusum (or)
Kusumba in Sanskrit literature.
 Carthamus is derived from Arabic word “Quartum”.
 Safflower oil is rich in poly unsaturated fatty acids of linoleic
acid up to 78% which play an important role in reducing
cholesterol content and it is a drying oil and contains 24 -35%
oil (is recommended for heart patients).
 The hot oil poured in cooled water, becomes a plastic of
thickness and used for adhesive in glass industry.
 The oil is used in the preparation of “ROGHAN” which is used
for preservation of leather and production of water proof cloth.
It is also used in manufacturing soaps and varnishes.
 Safflower oil is the healthiest oil of all vegetable oils and its
value is increased when it is blended with rice bran oil.
 The safflower cake is used as cattle feed which contain 20%
protein but low in lysine
 Safflower was recognized as remedy in Rheumatism.
 Dry petals are used in the preparation of herbal medicine and
drugs.
 The Safflower is also used to provide resistance to
inflammation.
 In Ethiopia, decorticated seeds are pounded finely and mixed
with water to prepare a beverage “FIT-FIT”.
 The yield of floret ranged between 70-100 kg/ha and it
contains two colouring materials. Water soluble yellow
pigment “carthamidin” and orange red dye (2%) which is
insoluble in water but readily soluble in alkaline solution is
known as “CARTHAMIN”.
 Carthamin is of commercial importance and is used as additive
in food, beverage, cosmetics, paints, also for dyeing of cotton
and fabrics.
 Safflower is grown as border (guard) crop to protect the main
crop of wheat in North India and is also a green manure crop at
young stage.
 Hull is used to manufacture cellulose insulations.
 Origin
As per, Decandolle -Arabia, Vavilov - India

 Spiny type of Safflower is having higher oil content than

non spiny type.
 Yellow coloured flower types yield higher oil content.
 It is a xerophytic in nature.
 Area and distribution

 India, China, Mexico, USA, Ethiopia, Argentina and

Australia are the major growing countries.
 China grows safflower mostly for medical purpose.
 Safflower occupies seventh place in the area among nine
oilseed crops.
 In India 98.65% of the area comes under four states viz.,
Maharashtra, Karnataka and Telangana, A.P.
 In Karnataka, Area- 0.43 lakh ha, Production- 0.34 lakh t
and Yield – 809 kg/ha (2022-23)
 India is the largest producer of Safflower with 54 % area and
40 % production (2008-2009).
 India having 12 % area and 12 % production (2022-23).
 Maharashtra and Karnataka are the first and second with
reference to area and production where as productivity is
highest in Telangana (1017 kg/ha) followed by
Bihar (825 kg/ha), Maharashtra (771 kg/ha) and Karnataka
(745 kg/ha) ( 2022-23).
Area, Production and Productivity of Safflower (World)
Area wise Production wise Productivity wise
Country m ha Country (m t) Country kg/ha Rank
Kazakhstan 0.39 Kazakhstan 0.24 Mexico 1945.5 1
Russian 0.20 Russian Tajikistan 1644.9 2
Federation Federation 0.14 China 1470.6 3
India 0.11 India 0.09 China,
United States 0.05 1470.6 4
Mexico 0.07 mainland
of America United States Iran (Islamic
Mexico 0.03 of America 1321.2 5
0.06 Republic of)
World 0.93 World 0.76 India 826.3 10
World 961.4

Source: FAOSTAT, 2023

Area, Production and Productivity of Safflower (India)
Area wise Production wise Productivity wise
Area Production Yield
States/UTs States/UTs States/UTs
(„000‟ ha) („000‟ tonne) (kg./ha)
Maharashtra 41.33 Maharashtra 31.87 Telangana 1017
Karnataka 17 Karnataka 12.67 Bihar 825
Telangana 4 Telangana 4.07 Maharashtra 771
Andhra Andhra Karnataka 745
Pradesh 2.21 Pradesh 1.06
Odisha 630
Odisha 0.64 Odisha 0.4 Andhra
Bihar 0.15 Bihar 0.13 Pradesh 478
India 65.42 India 50.21 India 768

Source: indiastat, 2024

Area, Production and Productivity of Safflower (Karnataka)

Area wise Production wise Productivity wise

Area Production Yield
States/UTs States/UTs States/UTs
(lakh ha) (Lakh tonne) (kg./ha)
Bidar 0.154 Bidar 0.156 Bidar 1035
Kalburgi 0.079 Kalburgi 0.054 Haveri 884
Dharwad 0.075 Dharwad 0.053 Vijayapura (22) 627
Gadag 0.048 Gadag 0.027 Karnataka 809
Belagavi 0.015 Vijayapura 0.012
Vijayapura 0.020 Belagavi 0.010
Karnataka 0.427 Karnataka 0.338
Source: Karnataka State At A Glance – Statistical Report – 2022-23 (DES)
Generated from: K-GIS, KSRSAC
 Climate
 Safflower is well adapted to wide range of climatic
condition.
 However, the maximum production is confined up to 1000
MSL in semi arid tropics and arid areas with latitude of
14 °N to 22°N.
 Important production factors are soil temperature and soil
moisture.
 Temperature is the most important climatic parameter as it is
thermo sensitive and it is mainly grown as rabi oil seed crop.
 Optimum temperature of soil for seed germination is 15-
16°C. It may tolerate temperature upto 49°C, if sufficient soil
moisture is available.
 Temperature more than 40°C reduce the plant height, dry
matter production and seed set and test weight.
 Day temperatures in the range of 24-32°C at flowering is the
optimum.
 Higher temperature at flowering is harmful to crop resulting
in sterile heads.
 Crop is tolerant to frost at seedling stage but sensitive at later
stages.
 It is a day neutral plant, but a day length of 12-14 hour is
essential for flowering and seed set. Compared to day length,
temperature is more important.
 It is a drought resistant and susceptible to water logging.
 It comes up well with a rainfall of 500-600 mm.
 It cannot withstand excessive soil moisture/humidity at any
stage due to damage from fungal diseases.
 Soil

 Being a drought resistant, it is cultivated in all type of soils,

but well drained, fertile and deep soil with high water
holding capacity are the best.
 Safflower is mostly grown on residual soil moisture.
 South India – Deep black soil (Karnataka, Maharashtra).
 North India – latosols (Laterite and sandy loam soil).
 Commercial cultivation is extended on medium to deep
black soils in peninsular India
 Higher yield are obtained at neutral, soil pH range of 5-8.0.
 It is salt tolerant crop i.e. up to 7dS/m. However, seedling
stage is sensitive to salinity.
 Varieties and Hybrids

 Varieties – Manjira, Sagaramuthyalu (APRR–3), Parbhani

Kusum, A-1 (National Check), A-2, S-144, NARI-6 (non
spiny)
 Hybrids - DSH – 129, NH – 1 (First non-spiny hybrid in the
world), NARI – 15, NARI – 38, Bhima, Girna, Sharda and
Sweta.
High yielding Safflower Variety : DSAF-1
C¢PÀ E¼ÀĪÀjAiÀÄ PÀĸÀÄ¨É vÀ½ : r¸Áå¥À-1

Duration: 125-127 days Yield: 17-19 q/ha Season: rabi

Oil content: 28.2% JuÉÚ CA±À: 28.2%, year of release: 2021
CªÀ¢:ü 125-127 ¢£ÀUÀ¼ÀÄ E¼ÀĪÀj : 17-19 q/ha PÁ®: »AUÁgÀÄ
Zones: 3 and 8 for rabi ªÀ®AiÀÄ: 3 ºÁUÀÆ 8 »AUÁgÀÄ
Special features: High yielding variety suitable for rabi season
«±ÉõÀ UÀÄt : C¢üPÀ E¼ÀĪÀj vÀ½, »AUÁgÀÄ ºÀAUÁ«Ä£À°è ¨É¼ÉAiÀÄ®Ä ¸ÀÆPÀÛ
High yielding Safflower Variety : Annigeri-2020
C¢PÀ E¼ÀĪÀjAiÀÄ PÀĸÀÄ¨É vÀ½ : CtÂÚUÉÃj-2020

Duration: 123-130 days Yield: 15-17 q/ha Season: rabi

Oil content: 28.6% JuÉÚ CA±À: 28.6% year of release: 2020
CªÀ¢:ü 123-130 ¢£ÀUÀ¼ÀÄ E¼ÀĪÀj : 15-17 q/ha PÁ®: »AUÁgÀÄ
Zones: 3 and 8 for rabi ªÀ®AiÀÄ: 3 ºÁUÀÆ 8 »AUÁgÀÄ
Special features: High yielding variety suitable for rabi season
«±ÉõÀ UÀÄt : C¢üPÀ E¼ÀĪÀj vÀ½, »AUÁgÀÄ ºÀAUÁ«Ä£À°è ¨É¼ÉAiÀÄ®Ä ¸ÀÆPÀÛ
Safflower Variety : Annigeri-2
PÀĸÀÄ¨É vÀ½ : CtÂÚUÉÃj-2

Duration: 120-125 days Yield: 8-10 q/ha Season: rabi

Oil content: 33% JuÉÚ CA±À: 33% year of release: 1997
CªÀ¢:ü 123-130 ¢£ÀUÀ¼ÀÄ E¼ÀĪÀj : 8-10 q/ha PÁ®: »AUÁgÀÄ
Zones: 3 and 8 for rabi ªÀ®AiÀÄ: 3 ºÁUÀÆ 8 »AUÁgÀÄ
Special features: High yielding variety suitable for rabi season
«±ÉõÀ UÀÄt : C¢üPÀ E¼ÀĪÀj vÀ½, »AUÁgÀÄ ºÀAUÁ«Ä£À°è ¨É¼ÉAiÀÄ®Ä ¸ÀÆPÀÛ
Safflower Variety : Annigeri-1
PÀĸÀÄ¨É vÀ½ : CtÂÚUÉÃj-1

Duration: 125-130 days Yield: 12-15 q/ha Season: rabi

Oil content: 27.7% JuÉÚ CA±À: 27.7% year of release: 1967
CªÀ¢:ü 125-130 ¢£ÀUÀ¼ÀÄ E¼ÀĪÀj : 12-15 q/ha PÁ®: »AUÁgÀÄ
Zones: 3 and 8 for rabi ªÀ®AiÀÄ: 3 ºÁUÀÆ 8 »AUÁgÀÄ
Special features: High yielding variety suitable for rabi season
«±ÉõÀ UÀÄt : C¢üPÀ E¼ÀĪÀj vÀ½, »AUÁgÀÄ ºÀAUÁ«Ä£À°è ¨É¼ÉAiÀÄ®Ä ¸ÀÆPÀÛ
Safflower Variety : Annigeri-300
PÀĸÀÄ¨É vÀ½ : CtÂÚUÉÃj-300

Duration: 127-130 days Yield: 9-11 q/ha Season: rabi

Oil content: 27% JuÉÚ CA±À: 27% year of release: 1957
CªÀ¢:ü 123-130 ¢£ÀUÀ¼ÀÄ E¼ÀĪÀj : 9-11 q/ha PÁ®: »AUÁgÀÄ
Zones: 3 and 8 for rabi ªÀ®AiÀÄ: 3 ºÁUÀÆ 8 »AUÁgÀÄ
Special features: High yielding variety suitable for rabi season
«±ÉõÀ UÀÄt : C¢üPÀ E¼ÀĪÀj vÀ½, »AUÁgÀÄ ºÀAUÁ«Ä£À°è ¨É¼ÉAiÀÄ®Ä ¸ÀÆPÀÛ
 Land preparation

 Safflower requires fairly pulverized seed bed free from

clods.
 Being a deep rooted crop it requires deep ploughing.
 Crop raised for dye purpose requires fine tilth than oil crop.
 One deep ploughing with M.B. plough is sufficient followed
by 2-3 harrowings with planking.
 Seed and sowing
 Season: Rabi
 Time of Sowing: II. FN of September to I. FN of October
 If delayed, Aphid damage is more common.
 Seed rate: 8-10 kg/ha as pure crop. 4-6 kg/ha as mixed
crop/border crop.
 Spacing: 60 cm × 30 cm
 Method of sowing: Broadcasting, behind the plough (pora
method) and seed drill
 Depth of sowing: 4-5 cm (Normal), 7.5-10 cm (dry Land).
 Thinning @ 10-15 DAS.
 Very high density of plant population significantly reduces the
branching ability
 Manures and fertilizers

 On an average safflower crop remove 60-65 kg N,

30 kg P2O5 and 40 – 45 kg K2O ha -1.
 One tonne of seed removes about 45 kg N
 FYM @ 5-10 t/ha
 CaCl2 (2%), Azospirilium-500 g/ha
UASD recommendations

 FYM @ 5-10 t/ha

 Rainfed: 40:40:12.5 kg/ha N:P2O5:K2O –all are basal dose
S-30 kg/ha and ZnSo4-15 kg/ha
 Irrigation: 75:75:40 kg/ha N:P2O5:K2O, S-30 kg/ha and
ZnSo4-15 kg/ha
Basal 50% N, remaining 50 % N as top dressing at flowering
stage
 30-40 kg N, 30-40 kg P2O5, 20-30 kg K2O /ha (National)
 Nutrient deficiency
symptoms in Safflower
 Water management
 Water requirement is 250-300 mm.
 Safflower is generally grown as rainfed on residual soil
moisture and it is highly drought tolerant as it is a deep
rooted crop.
 In light soil, 2-3 irrigations are given
 where as in vertisol, residual soil moisture is sufficient.
 One life saving irrigation should be given when drought
condition occur.
 Rosette stage (Early vegetative stage) is the most critical
stage of safflower i.e., 21 DAS or 4-6 leaf stage and yield can
be increased by 40-60%.
 Cont…

 Poorly drained soil and water logged condition enhance the

problem of wilt and root rot.
 The WUE is 5.64 kg seed/ha-mm.
 Safflower is cultivated on saline soils by sowing on the slope
of the ridge.
 Under high salinity, the oil content is reduced by increasing
hull percent.
 Broad bed & furrow at 1.5–2 m is suitable to minimise contact
of water with above ground part & minimize the root & stem
rot in heavy soils.
 Weed management
 The growth habits of safflower make it extremely susceptible
to weed competition.
 The critical period of crop growth-weed competition is
Rosette stage to flowering stage.
 The rosette stage 25-30 DAS in Rabi and may be prolonged
up to 60 DAS in winter situation.
 The field should be free from weed infestation during early
growth stage depending on the length of the rosette stage.
Cont…

 PPI of Fluchoralin @ 1 kg ai /ha. or PE of Oxadiazon @ 1 kg

ai /ha. Or PE of Atrazine @ 1 kg ai /ha.
 Pendimethalin @ 0.75 kg/ha + one hand weeding provides
weed free environment and is cost effective.
 Safflower is sown in wide rows. So, intercultivation
implements can be used for weed control.
 Two harrowings at 25-30 DAS & 45-50 DAS in combination
with one hand weeding can effectively check weed growth.
 Cropping systems
 In low rainfall areas receiving 400-500 mm, safflower is
superior to other winter crops as it extracts moisture from sub
soil.

Intercropping

 Although sole crop of safflower is more profitable under

conditions of adequate moisture availability, it is grown as
intercrop with traditional crops to overcome the risk of crop
failure under adverse conditions.
 Cont…

 Andhra Pradesh – Chickpea + safflower (3:1 or 2:1),

Coriander + safflower (3:1 or 2:1)
 Karnataka - Linseed + Safflower (6:2)
 Maharashtra - Wheat + safflower (3:1 or 2:1)
 Cont…

Sequence cropping
 It is profitable where rainfall is 700 – 800 mm.
In Northern Zone:
 Maize – Safflower,
 Sorghum – Safflower,
 Sesame – Safflower,
 Mungbean – Safflower
Scarce rainfall Zone:
 Greengram – Safflower,
 Sesame – Safflower ,
 Soybean– Safflower
 Harvesting
 The crop comes to maturity within 110-120 days. As soon as
the leaves and most of the bracteoles except a few of last
formed become brown and seeds are dried and easily
separated from the head.
 The crop is harvested either by uprooting the plant or cutting
at the bottom.
 Plants are thorny and harvesting is taken up at the early
hours of the day and to be completed before 10.00 am when
the spines will be soft.
 As the day advances, spine becomes stiff causing
inconvenience to harvesting.
 The harvested plants are heaped for a day or two in the field
and threshed by beating with stick, cleaned, dried and stored at
8% moisture content.
 Combined harvesters used in wheat could also be used for
harvesting and threshing.
 Seed yield : Rainfed -7.5-10 q/ha,
Irrigated -15-20q/ha
 Oil quality
 Traditional safflower seed contain 50% hull & 28-32% oil.
 It is pale yellow in colour
 Good drying oil.
 Fatty acid composition is - Linoleic acid 70-80%,
Oleic acid – 6-8%,
Stearic acid – 2-3% and
Palmitic acid – 5-8%.
 Due to 90% of poly unsaturated fatty acids, safflower oil is
considered to be the best of edible vegetable oil.
Pests and diseases
Insect pest of Safflower
 Safflower aphid

SN: Uroleucon carthami

Family: Ahididae
Order: Hemiptera
Distribution and status: This pest causes considerable damage
to safflower in Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh,
Punjab and Haryana.
Bionomics:
 The aphids are small shining black, soft bodied insects.
 The nymphs are smaller in size and are reddish brown in
colour.
 The aphid is active from December to April.
 A female produces 6-56 young ones with an average of 21.
 It completes its life cycle in 11-16 days.
 The adult aphid has a life span of 17 days.
Damage symptoms:
 The aphids suck the sap from leaves, twigs, flowers and
capsules.
 In infested plants, the height, number of leaves and
shoots reduce significantly.
 The plants become weak, remain stunted and·
sometimes dry up.
 Seed production is seriously affected.
 The aphids secrete honeydew which attracts a black
sooty mould.
 Management
 Spray 5% NSKE or
 Spray 1@ Cotton oil (0.2% soap solution)
 Spray 1.7 ml Dimethoate 30 EC or
0.2 g Thiamethoxam 25% WG or
1 g Acephate 75% SP or
1 ml Monocrotophos 36% SL or
1.5 ml of chlorpyriphos 20% EC per liter of water
 Repeat the spray after 15 days, if necessary.
 Under water of scarcity Dusting of Quinalphos 1.5 % DP or
Malathion 5% DP
 Conserve parasitoid Aphidencyrtus aphidivorus and
predator Brumoides suturalis
 Safflower Caterpillar

SN: Perigea capensis / Prospalta capensis

Family: Noctuidae
Order: Lepidoptera
Distribution and status:
Serious pest of safflower throughout India

Bionomics: The adult is a dark-brown medium-sized moth with

white wavy markings on the forewings.
 The full grown caterpillar is about 25 mm long, smooth,
greenish with purple markings and humped on the anal segment.
 A female lays about 60 eggs singly or in small clusters on leaves
and stems.
 The eggs hatch in 4-5 days.
 The larva grows feeding on the leaves and becomes full-grown
in 2-3 weeks.
 It pupates in the soil for 10- I 5 days.
Damage symptoms:
The larvae feed on the leaves and defoliate the plants
which lose their vigour and become stunted.

Management

Encourage natural enemies – larval parasites such as

Apantelets flavipes
Chelonus blackurni
Rogas percurrens
Spray 0.3 ml Indoxacarb 15.8 EC or 0.15 ml Spinosad 45
SC per liter of water
Gram pod borer / Capsule borer: Helicoverpa armiger

Symptoms of damage:

 In early stage of crop growth larvae feed on leaves and

shoot apices
 Later, the larvae shift to the developing capitula
 The symptoms are perforated leaves, perforated in
volucral bracts, partially or completely eaten capitula in
the bud stage and bored developing capitula
 Identification of the pest
Eggs: Spherical in shape and creamy white in colour,
laid singly
Larva: Shows colour variation from greenish to brown.
It has dark brown grey lines on the body with lateral
white lines and also has dark and pale bands.
Pupa: Brown in colour, occurs in soil, leaf, pod and crop
debris
Adult: Light pale brownish yellow stout moth.
Forewings are olive green to pale brown with a dark
brown circular spot in the centre.
Hind wings are pale smoky white with a broad blackish
outer margin
 Management

 Intercropping with non host crop like wheat or barley

 Avoid chickpea as intercrop
 Excessive application of nitrogen should be avoided
 Ha NPV can be applied at 250-300 larval equivalents/ha
 Conserve Campoletis chloridae, Enicospilus sp, etc
 1 ml Monocrotophos 36% SL or
 2 ml Quinalphos 25 EC
Disease of Safflower
Cercospora Leaf spot Symptom
Scientific name:  Safflower plants few weeks after planting or
Cercospora carthami
at flowering stage are commonly attacked.
Family:
Mycosphaerellaceae  Circular to irregular brown sunken spots of
3-10 mm diameter are formed on leaves.
 Spots are surrounded by yellow halos.
 Symptoms first appear on lower leaves and
spread to upper leaves.
 Stems and nodes may also be affected.
 In severe infections bracts are also affected
with reddish brown spots.
 Affected flower buds turn brown and die.
Alternaria leaf spot Symptom
 It is the most destructive disease.
Scientific name:  Dark necrotic lesions 2-5 mm in diameter are
Alternaria carthamin formed first on hypocotyls and cotyledons.
Family:  In mature plants, small brown to dark brown
Pleosporaceae
concentric spots of 1-2 mm appear on leaves.
 Symptoms also appear on stem and severely
infected plant gets blighted.
 Brown discolouration appears on the stem,
dark brown spots with concentric rings up
to 1 cm in diameter appear on the leaves
which later develop into large lesions.
 Seeds also may be affected. Dark sunken
lesions are produced on the testa. It may rot
and damping off of seedlings occur.
Root rot Scientific name: Phytophthora cryptogea
Family: Pleosporaceae Symptom
 This disease can infect seedlings, but
more often plants are not affected
until flowering.
 Plants may dry out, appear bleached
and collapse in a short time.
 Lower stems and roots are often
discoluored and become rotted.
 As the plants die, they take on a
bleached appearance and the base of
the stem and the roots become
completely dark.
 Plants may die individually or in
patches.
 Managment
 Seed treatment with Tricoderma harzanium @ 10 g/kg
 Liquid formulaiton @ 2 ml/kg seed.
 Thiram or Dithane M-45 @ 3g/kg to control root rot
diseases
 Spray Mancozeb 2.5 g/l or Carbendazim 1 g + Mancozeb
2g/l for management of Alternaria leaf spot
 Spray the crop with Copper oxychloride 3g/l or Mancozeb
2.5 g/l to control of Cercospora leaf spot.