LOSSES PERCENTAGES OF SAFFLOWER CULTIVARS AS INFLUENCED BY HARVESTING DATE

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at the experimental farm ,Dept. of Field Crop Sci., College of Agriculture, Abu-Ghraib during the fall seasons of 2011 and 2012. The aim was to study the losses percentages on the seeds yield and its components for different safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) cultivars (2018, Gila, Al- mais, Urdnie and Rabia 500) as influenced by harvesting dates (at physiological maturity, and one, two and three weeks later). This experiment was conducted as split-plot by a randomized complete block design with three replicates. The genotypes were assigned in the main plot, while the planting dates were assigned in the sup-plots. The results showed that there were significant differences between genotypes in the loss percentage of the seed yield and its components, were Gila gave the highest averages rat of loss in the number of primary branches /plant (30.80% and 29.61%), number of head/plant (47.10% and 36.06%), dry weight (56.47% and 22.19%), number of seeds/plant (32.21% and 36.52%), the weight of 100 seed(13.09% and 36.52%) in both seasons. This led to the increased seed yield/plant losses by (40.28% and 21.92%) in both seasons, respectively. However the Rabia 500 gave the lower percentage of losses(10.03% and 19.44%), via less losses percentage of seed yield components (number of primary branches /plant (14.57% and 21.48%)and number of head/plant (39.71% and 19.44%) in both seasons respectively). The delay in the harvesting date has led to increase percentage of loses for seed yield and its components. The highest increase in the percentages losses was obtained when plants harvest at three weeks after physiological maturity for primary and secondary branches/plant, number of head/plant, number of seed/plant, dry weight, 100 seed weight and seed yield, in both seasons respectively. It can be concluded that the Gila was the most sensitive cultivar to the harvesting processes, Rabia 500 was less affected by these processes. Therefore harvesting date should be based on each cultivar characteristics.