The effect of deficit irrigation methods on growth characteristics and water productivity of safflower under Arid climate

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Irrigation and Drainage, Faculty of Water and Environmental Engineering, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran

2 Department of Irrigation and Drainage, Faculty of Water and Environmental Engineering, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran.

3 Department of Plant Production and Genetics, Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan, Ahvaz, Iran

Abstract

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is a multipurpose crop that is widely grown in arid and semi-arid regions of the world, mainly to produce high-quality edible oil rich in unsaturated fatty acids. The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) and partial root zone drying (PRD) methods on yield, yield components and water productivity efficiency of safflower. This study was conducted in the Experimental Research Station located in Agricultural and Natural Resources Sciences University of Khuzestan during the 2020 to 2021 and 2021 to 2022 growing seasons. The experiment was designed as a completely randomized block with one control treatment (Conventional irrigation) and 4 deficit irrigation treatments and in four replications. The results showed that the different irrigation methods had a significant and decreasing effect on plant height, number of seeds per plant, thousand seed weight, seed yield, biological yield and oil yield traits. Comparing RDI80 and PRD80 treatments, the highest seed yield (3.4 tons/ha) and oil yield (845.7 kg/ha) and the highest value of water productivity index was obtained from RDI80 treatment. Also, comparing RDI60 and PRD60 treatments, the highest seed yield (2.2 tons/ha) and oil yield (584 kg/ha) was obtained from PRD60 treatment. Therefore, according to the obtained results, it is recommended to use the RDI80 regulated deficit irrigation method to reduce 20% and the PRD60 partial root zone drying method to save 40% of water requirement for safflower cultivation in hot and dry areas with limited water resources.

Keywords

Main Subjects


EXTENDED ABSTRACT

Introduction:

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is a multipurpose crop that is widely grown in arid and semi-arid regions of the world, mainly to produce high-quality edible oil rich in unsaturated fatty acids.

Objective:

This study aims to investigate the effects of regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) and partial root zone drying (PRD) methods on yield, yield components and water productivity efficiency of safflower.

 

Materials and methods:

 This study was conducted in the Experimental Research Station located in Agricultural and Natural Resources Sciences University of Khuzestan during the 2020 to 2021 and 2021 to 2022 growing seasons. The experiment was designed as a completely randomized block with one control treatment (Conventional irrigation) and 4 deficit irrigation treatments and in four replications.

 

Results:

 The findings of this research showed that deficit irrigation management had a significant reducing effect on plant height, number of seeds per pod, 1000 seed weight, seed yield, biological yield and oil yield. Conventional CI irrigation treatment with 3907.5 kg/ha showed higher seed yield than other treatments. The average seed yield in partial root zone drying treatment PRD80 and PRD60 was 2577.6 and 2280.3 kg/ha, respectively, as well as for deficit irrigation treatments RDI80 and RDI60, 3409.3 and 1671.4 kg/ha respectively.  The highest oil yield related to CI treatment (993.6 kg/ha) was obtained. The results showed that there is a significant difference between deficit irrigation treatments in terms of water productivity efficiency index for seed yield, biological yield and oil yield. The highest value of total irrigation and precipitation productivity index WP(Ir+P) related to deficit irrigation treatment set RDI80 for oil yield (0.12 kg/m3), biological yield (1.42 kg/m3) and seed yield (0.49kg/m3) was obtained. Comparison of the averages showed the lowest value of WP(Ir+P) related to deficit irrigation treatment set RDI60 for oil yield (0.08 kg/m3), biological yield (0.89 kg/m3) and seed yield (0.30 kg/m3) was obtained. In comparison of deficit irrigation treatments with the same stress levels (RDI80 and PRD80), the highest seed yield (3.4 tons/ha) and oil yield (845.7 kg/ha) were obtained from RDI80 treatment. Also, comparing RDI60 and PRD60 treatments, the highest seed yield (2.2 tons/ha) and oil yield (584 kg/ha) were obtained from PRD60 treatment.

 

Discussion:

The success in promoting and developing the cultivation of oilseeds in a specific country or region in terms of climate largely depends on the seed and oil yield of that plant. The global average yield of safflower is 822kg/ha. In this research, the yield in optimal conditions was about 3900 kg/ha (4.7 times the average yield). It seems that the selection of the appropriate variety and tolerant to the climatic conditions of the region, the selection of the optimal planting density, the appropriate amount and time of using fertilizer and irrigation are the factors to increase the yield, which are recommended to be observed in safflower cultivation. The purpose of applying deficit irrigation is to reach the maximum production capacity per unit of water consumption and to save water consumption, therefore, according to the results; it is possible to use the regulated deficit irrigation (RDI80) to reduce by 20% and the partial root zone drying (PRD60) root local recommended for 40% water saving for safflower cultivation in hot and dry areas with limited water resources.

 

Keywords:  Safflower, Drought, Regulated deficit irrigation, Partial root-zone, Water productivity.

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