International journal of Agronomy and Plant Production. Vol., 4 (3), 524-529, 2013Available online at http:// www.ijappjournal.comISSN 2051-1914 ©2013 VictorQuest Publications

The effect of biological and chemical fertilizers and plant density onquality and quantity yield of Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius.L) under

Ahvaz conditionMina Pedram1, Amir Ayenehband2, Adel Modhej3

1- Msc Candid of Agronomy,, Science and Reseach Center of Ahvaz Azad University , Ahvaz, Iran2-Associate Professor of Ecology, Agricuture faculty, Shahid Chamran University, Ahvaz, Iran

3-Assistant professor, department of Agronomy, Shoshtar branch, Islamic Azad University, Shoshtar, Iran

*Corresponding Author: Mina Pedram

Abstract

To evaluate the effect of fertilizers and density of plants on yield and yield componentsof safflower (Carthamus tinctorius.L) which are the most important factors in integratedplant growth and sustainable management of agroecosystem in sustainable agriculture.This experiment was done factorial in randomized complete design with threereplications in research farm of Gardening department Faculty of Agriculture ShahidChamran University of Ahvaz in 2011-2012 growing season. The plots consisted 3 levelsof fertilizers a1= 100% biologic fertilizer (Nitroplaskin, Phosphate Barvar-2 and Alkan) a2= 100% chemical fertilizers (Nitrogen 152 Kg/ha, Phosphorus 108 Kg/ha and Potassium100 Kg/ha) and a3= biofertilizer with 50% chemical fertilizer. And the other factor, was 3levels of safflower densities (b1=13, b2=20 and b3=27 plants/m2). Our results showedthat the effect of fertilizer and density treatments and their interactions on number ofcapitula/plant, and the effect of density on harvest indice, oil percentage and oil yieldwas significant (P≤0.05). The highest seed yield and protein percentage was obtained incombination of biofertilizer with chemical fertilizer treatment. The highest weight of 1000seeds, biologic yield, oil percentage and oil yield was obtained in biofertilizer treatmentand the highest harvest indice and seed core percentage was obtained from chemicalfertilizer treatment. In density treatments, the highest biologic yield and protein percentwere obtained from 27 plants/m2 density and the highest seed yield, harvest indice andoil yield were obtained from 20 plants/m2 density and in 13 plants/m2 density, the highesttraits were the weight of 1000 seeds, number of seeds per capitula and number ofcapitulas/plant.

Keywords: biofertilizer, nitrogen, density, yield, yield component, safflower

Introduction

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius .L) along with Canola, Sunflower, Sesame, Soybean and Cotton are themain seed crops in eastern countries since long ago. In order to establish necessary conditions for better useof natural reactions like biologic fixation of nitrogen by biofertilizers, interests have been raised towardenvironmental friendly sustainable practices which can reduce input costs (Salantur et al, 2005). N2-fixingplays an important role in plant nutrition by increasing nitrogen uptake by plant and playing a significant roleas plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) in biofertilization of crops. PGRP are able to exert abeneficial upon plant growth by Nitrogen fixation and phosphorus solublization (Zaidi et al, 2006), productionof antibiotics (Zahir et al, 2004), and increase root uptake of water and minerals are the principle mechanismof PGPR.A number of different bacteria promote plant growth, including Azotobacter sp, Azospirillum sp,Pseudomonas sp, Bacillus sp and Acetobacter sp(Turan et al,2006). PGPR are a group of growth promotingbacteria that actively colonize plant root and increase plant yield and growth by production ofphytohormones, asymbiotic N2 fixation, fight against phytopathogenic microorganisms by production of

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siderophores, synthesis of antibiotics, enzymes and fungicidal compounds and also solubilization of mineralphosphates and other nutrients(Gholami et al, 2009). Behl et al (2003) indicated that Azotobacter and Micorhiza increased seed yield, seed number, 1000 seedweight and biological yield of wheat. Zahir et al (1998) reported 19.8% increase in seed yield of maize due todual inoculation of seeds with Azotobacter and Pseudomonas. Titlak et al (1982) reported improving seedyield due to dual inoculation of Azotobacter and Azospirillum.Biofertilizer, Phosphate Barvar-2 contains a group of phosphate solubilizing bacteria like Pseudomonas andBacillus which can produce different organic and mineral acids like 2-Ketogluconic, citric, oxalic, salic,succinic acids and they also secret phosphatase enzyme. Alkan biofertilizer is amixture of compost andsterile manure in powder form and contain sulfur microelements and Thiobacillus. it’s formulation consist of70% organic matter with PH=6.5. this biofertilizer contains other microelements like Fe, Cu, Mn and Zn(Ahmed et al, 2006).Nezarat and Gholami (2009) reported that reduction in density of safflower caused increase in yield. But withincrease in number of capitula in cubic meter, weight of 100 seeds and number of seeds in each plant wasreduced. Raju et al(2006) reported that the most suitable density for safflower was 20 plants/m2 which hadthe highest yield and economical output.The aim of this research was evaluation of suitable fertilizers like Nitroxin, Phosphate Barvar-2 and Alkanand possibility of replacement of chemical fertilizers with biofertilizers and finding the suitable density inincrement of yield and yield components and economic output of safflower.

Materials and methods

This field experiment was carried out at experimental farm of Gardening department, Faculty ofAgriculture Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz( south-western Iran) during 2010-2011 growing seasonwith 41 ْ48′ longitude and 31 20' latitude. The soil sample was collected from 30 centimeter depth and thefollowing results were obtained from analysis. pH=7.83, Ec=4.89ms/cm, phosphorus=32.57mg/kg,nitrogen=0.04%, potassium=81.93mg/kg, clay=23.61%, silt=53.39, small sand=23% and soil texture wassilty loam.The experimental design was used as a randomized split plot arrangement with three replications. Each plotwas 2.5x2.5 m2 and contained 5 sowing rows, 50 cm space between rows and one row distance as a border.There was 100 cm distance between two treatments. Nitrogen fertilizer was divided into 3 parts and eachpart was applied before sowing, branching and flowering stages. Standard biofertilizers ie Nitroplaskin1liter/kg seed, Phosphor Barvar-2 100gr/100 kg seed and Alkan 800 kg/ha were used for 100% biologicfertilizer treatment. For combination of biologic and chemical fertilizer treatment one half was chemical andthe other half was biologic fertilizer. Seeds were sown on the top of the rows in 4 cm depth the distancebetween seeds was calculated according to densities ie 13, 20 and 27 plants/m2. first irrigation was done justafter sowing. The plant were weeded out in 2 steps, first at 4 leave stage and second at 6 leave stage 30and 45 days after sowing and irrigation was continued every 8-10 days. Weeds were weeded out duringgrowth season specially in first 12 weeks afterward it was done once weekly. After maturation and beforeharvest 5 plants were choosen randomly for evaluation of traits like number of capitulas/plant, number ofseeds/capitula. For determination of yield, after complete maturation of plants, the plants in one cubic meterfrom 2 middle rows were choosen and used for determination of weight of 1000 seeds, harvest indice, oilpercentage, oil yield and protein percentage.

Result and discussion

The results obtained revealed that the effects of fertilizer and density treatments and their interactions(tables 1 and 2 ) on the number of seeds per capitula was not significant but the number 0f seeds/ capitulawas higher in biofertilizer treatment in 13 plants/m2 density. This results are similar to results reported by(Shesha Saila Sree ,2005) in sunflower. The earlier studies by (Pragathi Kumari et al, 2004 and Khandse etal, 1991) in sunflower and safflower respectively indicated the possibility of saving of 25% of inorganic N byseed inoculation with biofertilizers. The number of capitula/plant and the weight of 1000 seeds were highestin biofertilizer treatment with 13 plants/m2 density but there was no significant difference between all thetreatments. Such increases in number of capitula/plant and the weight of 1000 seeds may be due toincreased plant accessibility to nutrients and increased absorption of nutrients and minerals as a result ofimproved growth. Our results are in agreement with (Singh et al, 2004) on wheat and (Gonzales et al, 1994)on safflower. The results showed that seed yield had no significant difference among the treatments but thehighest seed yield was in the combination of biofertilizer and chemical fertilizer treatments with 20 plants/m2

density. Our results are in agreement with (Nanda et al, 1995) who reported that inoculation with PGPR

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strains significantly promoted the growth of seedling of safflower.similar results was recorded by( Dobbelaereet al, 2001).Harvest indice was higher in 100% chemical fertilizer treatment in 20 plants/m2 density but there was nosignificant difference among the treatments. The harvest indice express the ratio of distribution ofphotosynthetic material between seed yield and biologic yield. The lower the biologic yield the higher theharvest indice and as the density increases the harvest indice would decrease. A similar result was reportedby (Beech and Norman, 1963).the results showed that the biologic yield was highest in biofertilizer treatmetwith 27 plants/m2 density but there was no significant difference among the treatments. This can be due toincreased plant accessibility to nutrients and increased absorption of nutrients and minerals as a result ofimproved reproductive growth and increase of dry matter in surface area unit. Our results are in agreementwith results reported by (Saeednejad et al, 2009). The results showed that oil content (percentage) wasmuch higher in biofertilizer treatment with 20 plants/m2 density as compared to all other treatments but therewas no significant difference among the treatments. This can be due to fixation of atmospheric Nitrogen andincrement of phosphorus availability in soil by biofertilizers which can enhance absorption of nutrients andelements by plants. This result is consistent with results reported by (Shehata, M. M. and S. A. El-Khawas,2003). Oil yield was highest in biofertilizer treatment with 20 plants/m2 density as compared to all othertreatments but there was no significant difference among the treatments. Oil yield was under the direct effectof oil percentage. Sajadinik et al(1990) reported a similar result. Protein percentage was highest incombination of biofertilizer and chemical fertilizer treatment with 27 plants/m2 density as compared to othertreatments but there were no all other treatments but there was no significant difference among thetreatments. A similar result was reported by Sajadinik et al(1990). With increase in density, the weight of1000 seeds and carbohydrate percentage were decreased and this resulted in increment of proteinpercentage.there is a reverce relation between protein and oil percentages. Similar result was reported by(Wani, S. P, 1990).Our results showed that seed kernel percentage was higher in chemical fertilizer treatment with 13 plants/mbut there was no significant difference among the treatments. Chemical fertilizer supply nutrients to the plantsince beginning and this causes increase in seed kernel.

Conclusion

According to results obtained we can conclude that the use of biofertilizers alone or with combinationwith chemical fertilizers can cause increment in biologic yield, seed yield and some of seed yield componentsand decrease the intensive use of chemical fertilizers and other chemicals which produced harmfulenvironmental problems and increased production costs. The best density for safflower agricultural practicesis 20 plants/m2 .

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Table 1: Analysis of variance of some recorded traits under the effect of biological fertilizer and density

ns= not significant *= significant

Table 2: Mean comparison of some of estimated traits in safflowerExperimental

treatme TreatmentsW of1000seeds

Seedyield

Biolo yield HarvIndice

N ofh/plant

N ofS/head

Proteinpercent

Oil yield Oilpercent

Seedkernel%

a1

Chemical fertilizer

a

26.13 a

375.00 a

1735.90 a

22.37 ab

24.17 a

52.12 a

16.2122 a

129.97 a

34.33 a

58.91a2

Biofertilizer

a

26.37 a

377.31 a

1916.50 a

19.78 a

27.88 a

54.65 a

15.6789 a

133.05 a

36.00 a

55.84a3

chemical+biofertilizer

a

26.24 a

381.46 a

1859.82 a

20.90 b

20.72 a

49.75 a

17.4633 a

126.21 a

34.00 a

57.90b1

13 plant/m2density 26.45

a

370.00 a

1671.25 a

22.20 a

30.54 a

54.35 a

15.7222 ab

132.44 ab

36.00 a

57.99b2

20 plant/m2density

a

26.24 a

399.84 a

1816.33 a

22.21 b

23.10 a

52.23 a

16.7289 a

150.68 a

38.33 a

57.14b3

27 plant/m2density

a

26.04 a

388.44 a

2124.53 a

18.61 b

19.13 a

49.95 a

16.9033 b

106.12 b

30.00 a

57.52Interactions of fertilizer and densitya1 b1 26.02 a 369.73 a 1778.10 a 20.99 a 30.53 ab 57.39 a 17.2033 ab 114.88 b 31.00 bc 59.83 a

a1 b2 26.10 a 381.66 a 1572.93 a 24.70 a 20.88 bc 52.84 a 14.5200 ab 178.71 a 47.00 a 59.37 a

a1 b3 26.28 a 373.60 a 1856.66 a 21.44 a 21.11 bc 46.12 a 16.9133 ab 96.34 b 25.00 c 57.55 a

a2 b1 26.87 a 354.26 a 1604.53 a 21.83 a 34.77 a 56.02 a 13.3833 b 135.74 ab 38.33 ab 58.44 a

a2 b2 26.22 a 395.66 a 2080.46 a 18.96 a 25.66 ab 52.87 a 17.8767 a 136.25 ab 34.66 bc 53.39 a

a2 b3 26.01 a 382.00 a 2064.60 a 18.56 a 22.00 bc 56.17 a 15.7767 ab 146.08 ab 35.00 bc 55.70 a

a3 b1 26.45 a 386.00 a 1631.13 a 23.80 a 26.33 ab 49.63 a 16.5800 ab 146.71 ab 38.33 ab 55.72 a

a3 b2 26.42 a 422.20 a 1795.60 a 22.97 a 20.66 bc 51.52 a 17.7900 a 137.08 ab 33.33 bc 58.66 a

a3 b3 25.85 a 336.25 a 2152.73 a 15.93 a 15.19 c 48.10 a 18.0200 a 94.85 b 30.00 bc 59.32 a

MSSeedkernel%

Oil percentOil yieldProteinpercent

Number ofseeds/head

Number ofheads/plant

Harvest IndiceBiologic yieldSeed yieldWeight of1000 seeds

DFS.O.V

21.1397 ns38.111ns285.213 ns1.10555 ns40.8608 ns6.0206 ns101.5528926* 450591.0*14936.037 ns4.4760*2Treatments14.6282 ns10.333 ns105.652 ns7.55094 ns54.1419 ns115.3275 *15.1651370 ns76801.9026 ns 96.64148 ns0.12783 ns 2Fertilizer(a)104.193324.1111235.0366.0884143.319941.921619.2779148187188.571514685.743700.4235 4Error of a20.6604 ns166.333*4516.894*3.65824 ns43.5786 ns301.8513 *38.1039815*284024.6293 ns3325.65481 ns0.3640 ns 2Density(b)41.5190 ns145.666*1722.553 ns9.90365 ns37.1035 ns11.0942 ns19.8911370 ns106451.7793 ns1856.86815 ns0.3164 ns4Fer*Den45.513835.6669592.503 ns4.7923946.892224.35909.44499090.0865846.76810.625312Total Error15.485017.17221.71413.3067313.124020.340714.6171717.139620.232583.0125C.V

26total

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