ROW SPACING AND SEEDING RATES TO OPTIMIZE SAFFLOWER YIELD ON THE CANADIAN PRAIRIES

Nine experiments were conducted in Alberta and Manitoba between 1988 and 1991 to determine the effect of row spacing and seeding rates on safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) yield, oil content, test weight and maturity. Row spacings of 15 and 30 cm at Morden had little effect on yield, while in southern Alberta there was a tendency toward increased yields with narrow rows (23 cm) compared with wide rows (46 cm). Seeding rates of 32-40 kg ha(-1) were required to obtain maximum seed yields. Oil content, test weight, and days to maturity were not consistently affected by row spacing or seeding rate.