safflower production

Usage and Definition

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorial L.) is an annual oilseed crop well adapted to the grain regions of the western Great Plains. In North Dakota, safflower has been extended in experimental areas since 1928 and commercially since 1957. Acreage is concentrated in the western part of the state. Safflower adapts well to western North Dakota, South Dakota, and eastern Montana.

"Safflower provides three main products: oil, meal and bird seed. Safflower oil has two types: monounsaturated (oleic) and polyunsaturated polyunsaturated (linoleic)."

The main oil market is for varieties that produce seeds high in oleic acid and very low in saturated fat. High-fat safflower oil is lower in saturates and higher in monounsaturates than olive oil. Extra virgin olive oil is a good tool to prevent coronary artery disease.

This safflower oil is a heat-stable cooking oil to fry foods such as french fries, chips and other snacks. It is also used in cosmetics, food additives and baby food.

High linoleic oil is also used in human nutrition as a nutritional supplement to minimize body fat and inflammation, minor bad cholesterol, promote muscle health and enhance heart health. . High linoleic safflower oil is also used as an ingredient in soaps, sunscreens, lotions and lotions to hydrate the skin and help reduce inflammation and speed healing.

High linoleic oil is valued as a drying agent for paints and varnishes due to its non-degrading properties and as a source of conjugated linoleic acid. The meal, which has a protein content of 24 to 36%, depending on the type, is used as a protein supplement for beast feed and poultry.

Supplementation of sheep diets with high linoleic oil (3 to 6% of the diet) increased the steps of unsaturated fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acid in meat tissues without affecting its growth process or poor body composition.

Adding high linoleic safflower to beef cattle has also improved the body condition and performance of the animals. The addition of Nutrasaff safflower fed up to 3% of dry matter has helped improve the skill of nutrient utilization for milk production in lactating cows and improve milk acidity and quality.

Safflower seed is also sold as bird seed. The industry mainly markets white-bodied or regular safflower, although the striped and semi-white varieties are high in oil and protein. The birdseed market does not favour this type of fatty acid.

Safflower makes an acceptable forage when cut or just after the flowering stage when the first frost kills the plants before the seeds ripen.

Agronomy

Safflower is a safflower-like plant with a strong central branch stem, a variable number of branches and a root system. Each branch will usually have 15 to 20 flower heads per head.

The seed oil content is limited from 30 to 50%, depending on the variety grown and environmental conditions. The flower is usually yellow or orange, although some species have red or white flowers.

The height of the plant in North Dakota varies between 15 to 30 inches, depending on the species and environmental conditions. The safflower tarot can penetrate 8 to 10 feet deep in deep soil. Because of its deep root system, safflower is more drought-tolerant than small grains and other oil crops.

In western North Dakota, safflower is usually planted in April or early May. Seedlings usually appear after one to three weeks.

The young plant spends two to three weeks in the rosette stage, developing its leaves and root system. Safflower endures temperatures as low as 20 F while in the rosette ways.

Safflower is highly susceptible to frost damage during flowering and seed development. Safflower can be an alternative forage crop if an early killing frost occurs before the crop matures.

Forage quality peaks at or immediately after flowering, and forage quality declines as safflower matures. When safflower did not grow in the spring due to unusually cool, wet growing provisos and an earlier-than-normal fall-killing frost, the dry yield ranged from 1 ton to 3 per acre, and qualitative analyses have shown that safflower hay contains 8 to 10% crude protein, which contains acceptable string values.

The plants begin to flower in late June and bloom in mid-July. The flowering stage usually lasts 14 to 21 days, depending on the severity of the conditions, the available humidity and the variety.

The crop matures four weeks after flowering. In North Dakota, safflower typically requires 110 to 120 days from emergence to maturity.

"Safflower grows best in deep, fertile, well-drained loam soils with good water-holding capacity. It can also thrive in short-drained soils with low water-holding capacity. water when the amount of rain and the distribution of moisture are adequate."

Safflower corresponds to barley in tolerance to saline soils. Safflower is an excellent crop grown in renewable areas because its root system can access the remaining water below the depth of the small grains and use the water during its full growth.

The crop is carried well west of the north-south boundary in North Dakota beyond Minot and Bismarck. This region's dry atmospheric conditions prevail during flowering and seed filling. East of this line, high humidity and morning dew improve leaf and head diseases and reduce seed set, which can reduce yields. However, fungicides and varieties with improved resistance to Alternaria leaf spot have expanded the growing area to the east.

Circulation

Safflower is often grown as a crop or in rotation with small grains, perennials, and annuals. Volunteer grain from previous crops can be a problem when safflower follows the grain. Volunteer weeds are easily controlled with registered herbicides such as Post or Select Max.

Safflower should not follow safflower in spin or be planted in close succession with other crops susceptible to Sclerotinia disease (white spot). These crops include dry beans, field peas, sunflowers, mustard and canola. Reduced soil tillage and chemical fertilization are recommended to conserve residues and reduce soil erosion during the summer-fall after safflower.

Planting Dates, Rates, Row Width

The best planting dates for safflower in North Dakota are between April 22 and May 10. Planting early allows the crop to take full advantage of the growing season. Planting earlier is usually only beneficial if soil temperatures reach 40 F for seed sprouting.

Cruiser 5FS or other registered product is recommended as a seed treatment in fields where wireworms were a problem in previous crops. Planting after May 20 improves the risk of frost damage, reducing seed yield and quality. Planting can delay the harvest, so mechanical drying of the seeds is essential. Late planting generally results in briefer plants, less root depth, less branching, and lower seed and oil yields.

Use high-quality seed that germinates well (above 80%) and is treated for seed disease prevention. Safflower seeds are not strong. Mulching can reduce stand formation.

Planting 1 to 1.5 inches deep is ideal. Recommended seeding rates range from 15 to 30 pounds per acre of fresh, live seed. A low seed rate results in more branching, longer flowering and late crop growth. High seeding rates result in fewer branches and denser areas with higher disease susceptibility.

If possible, keep the seeds moist; However, do not plant safflower deeper than 2 inches. Often the same emergence that produces better seats is obtained with shallow seeding. Planting in dry soil and allowing spring rains to regenerate this vegetation is preferred over deep planting. Dryland safflower is usually planted with a 6- to 10-inch row spacing.

The size of the safflower seed is similar to that of barley, and its weight is about 38 pounds per bushel. Drilling settings for sowing safflower generally correspond to settings for the same rates of barley seed.

"The following rule of thumb can help you measure your machine before planting: planting a 20-pound seed per acre in 12-, 10-, 8- and 6-inch rows will require six, five, four and three in lines. a foot of line, respectively."

Hollow drills in the field or compaction can improve germination if the soil is compacted.

Fertilizer Requirements

Safflower will grow deeper than small grains. This allows the safflower plant to use deep-level nutrients, such as nitrogen (N), unavailable in forage and other crops.

Nitrogen is often the most restrictive nutrient in poor soil. Phosphorus can reduce poor and ungrazed soils, and safflower responds well to phosphorus.

Because safflower roots penetrate deeper than 4 feet, sampling to a depth of 2 feet can increase the accuracy of fertilizer recommendations.

The yield potential should be realistic, based on long-term conditions and the farmer's management skills. Yields ranged from 500 pounds per acre when moisture was low or weed and disease pressures were high to over 2,500 pounds per acre under relatively weed-free conditions. , diseases and insects even when sufficient moisture and fertilization were available.

The recommended total N is 80 pounds per acre. Total N includes available soil N and credits based on previous crops.

The process of nitrogen application will depend on the nitrogen source used. Who should apply anhydrous ammonia 4 to 6 inches below the soil surface? What should apply broadcast urea and other dry or liquid nitrogen products to the soil shortly after?

Application.

The application of drill lines should not exceed 16 pounds of actual nitrogen per acre because greenhouse injury can occur if this level is exceeded. Urea should not be used with seeds.

Safflower grown in soils with low phosphorus tests highly depends on the fertilizer used. Due to availability, binding or sprinkling phosphorus is more effective than broadcasting. Who can safely apply up to 35 pounds per acre of phosphate?

Weed Control

Safflower is a poor competitor with weeds in the rosette method and before stem elongation, so weed competition is often a major production problem. The rosette stage lasts four to six weeks, allowing weeds to become found before the plants can shade the soil. Do not attempt to arise a safflower without a good weed control program.

The following herbicides are labelled for weed monitor in safflower: Eptam (EPTC), Prowl H2O, trifluralin (varieties brand names), Dual Magnum or generic S-metolachlor, Spartan Charge (carfentazone and sulfentrazone), Harmony SG ( Thifensulfuron), Post (Cethoxydim), Select Max 1EC, Select 2EC, or Shadow 3EC (Clethodim) Preharvest Herbicides: Glyphosate, Drexel Difol (Sodium Chloride), Sharpen + MSO Adjuvant (saflufenacil), and Valor SX or Ezevan + MSO Adjuvant. )

Read and follow pesticide labels before using. Kochia, Russian weed and country mustard are the most difficult to control. Perennial plants such as Canada thistle and perennial sowthistle can be serious problems. Safflower should not be grown in fields with severe effects of perennial weeds.

If weeds appear before the safflower, hoeing along a light spike tooth harrow can control other weeds, but damage to emerging safflower can arrive. When irrigated safflower is implanted in wide rows (22 to 24 inches), the first cultivation between the rows before the stem is fired will kill most small weeds. After lengthening the stem, cultivation can move the soil to cover the small weeds in the row.

Disease Problems

The disease has been a problem in years of above-normal rainfall with prolonged periods of high humidity. The most severe disease under these conditions is the Alternaria leaf spot (Alternaria carthami).

Alternaria is characterized by developing large, brown, somewhat irregular spots on leaves and flower buds. As a result, the loss of photosynthetic tissue reduces yield. Growers should choose varieties carefully because some are susceptible to Alternaria leaf spot

more than various.

Quadris and AZteroid FC (azoxystrobin) and Priaxor (fluxopyrad + pyraclostrobin) are prescribed for foliar application at the beginning of flowering to control or suppress Alternaria leaf spot. Additional applications may be required under favourable disease and irrigation conditions.

Safflower rust (Puccinia carthami) is rarely a difficulty. Seed treatments easily control the seed-bearing spores of safflower rust.

Other diseases along Sclerotinia root rot or head rot, Phytophthora root rot, Verticillium wilt, Fusarium wilt, Pythium root rot and Pseudomonas bacterial blight. Control of these diseases is best achieved by planting disease-free seeds, treating the seed with appropriate fungicides and crop rotation. Safflower should not follow safflower, sunflower, dry beans, soybeans, mustard, canola or lentils in the rotation.

A rotation of four years is recommended to divide these crops. If possible, choose disease-tolerant varieties. Many new varieties are tolerant to Alternaria leaf spots.

Pest Problems

Safflower has very few pests that cause economic damage. Locusts, cutworms and wireworms are a potential problem.

Cruiser 5FS (thiamethoxam), Gaucho 600F and Senator 600FS (imidacloprid) are bound for Click beetles in safflower. Mustang Maxx (zeta-cypermethrin) and Potenza (cyantraniliprole) are registered for cutworms in safflower.

Harvesting and Storage

Safflower matures about 30 days after flowering and is ready to be harvested when most of the leaves are brown, and only green remains on the bracts of the latest flower heads. The seeds should rub freely from the heads.

Seed cracking is usually not difficult, although safflower should be harvested immediately after it has matured to reduce the risk of seed damage from excess moisture. Too much rain and moisture after the seeds have matured can cause head germination.

Bird damage in mature standing fields has rarely been a problem but may occur if fields are adjacent to a bird sanctuary.

Most of the safflower grown in North Dakota is ready to harvest in early September to late September, depending on the planting date and weather conditions during the growing season.

Safflower is harvested directly from a mixture of small grains. To prevent seed cracking, the combined cylinder speed should not exceed the peripheral speed of 3,000 meters per minute. This would be 500 rpm for a 22-inch cylinder.

The recommended concave area is 5/8 inch in the front and ½ inch in the back. A higher shaker speed than used for small grains is required to prevent plant residues from clogging the machine.

What should adjust the air to remove most empty or unfilled seeds? During the harvesting process, the white fumes from the seed heads are in the air and can clog the radiators and ventilation, causing the compound to overheat. Small mesh enclosures on these cooling systems should reduce this problem, and it may be necessary to ventilate the radiators once or twice a day. Accumulation of this fuzz can be a fire hazard.

For safe long-term storage, ground seed should not exceed 8% moisture. Who can achieve seed drying following the same precautions and methods as sunflowers? Drying temperatures should not overcome 110 F to confirm high seed quality and no seed damage.

Advertising

Historically, nearly all of the safflower produced in North Dakota, Montana and South Dakota has been grown and sold under contract.

What should negotiated agreements be before spring planting?

The contract will require a commitment to buy, at a fixed price, the total production from a certain number of hectares agreed upon by the farmer. Price per ton may vary by seed oil and test weight.

Contracts should include price per unit, payment arrangement, acreage to be planted, storage fees and provisions, premiums and discounts for oil quality or test weight, as well as moisture and dockage, final destination shipment and commodity rewards, and "act of God" in the event of a crop crisis. Contracts are recommended as a protected way to sell safflower seeds.

Varieties

All industrially available safflower varieties have been tested at the western North Dakota Research Extension Centers. Who can consult agricultural experts at different agencies or district attorneys for recommendations?

Description of the most popular types of commercial safflower and agronomic characteristics are shown in Tables 1 and 2. Usually, the grower will be limited to the growing variety that the customer and the contractor have entered.

Finch, Montola 2003, Hybrid 9049 and MonDak are popular varieties for the white bird seed market because they have pure white (common) seed. Oleic and linoleic safflower oil variation

It should not be compounded or improved within one mile.