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

com ISSN 2051-1914 2013 VictorQuest Publications

The effect of biological and chemical fertilizers and plant density on quality and quantity yield of Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius.L) under Ahvaz condition
Mina Pedram , Amir Ayenehband , Adel Modhej
1 2 3

1- Msc Candid of Agronomy,, Science and Reseach Center of Ahvaz Azad University , Ahvaz, Iran 2-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 components of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius.L) which are the most important factors in integrated plant growth and sustainable management of agroecosystem in sustainable agriculture. This experiment was done factorial in randomized complete design with three replications in research farm of Gardening department Faculty of Agriculture Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz in 2011-2012 growing season. The plots consisted 3 levels of fertilizers a1= 100% biologic fertilizer (Nitroplaskin, Phosphate Barvar-2 and Alkan) a2 = 100% chemical fertilizers (Nitrogen 152 Kg/ha, Phosphorus 108 Kg/ha and Potassium 100 Kg/ha) and a3= biofertilizer with 50% chemical fertilizer. And the other factor, was 3 2 levels of safflower densities (b1=13, b2=20 and b3=27 plants/m ). Our results showed that the effect of fertilizer and density treatments and their interactions on number of capitula/plant, and the effect of density on harvest indice, oil percentage and oil yield was significant (P0.05). The highest seed yield and protein percentage was obtained in combination of biofertilizer with chemical fertilizer treatment. The highest weight of 1000 seeds, biologic yield, oil percentage and oil yield was obtained in biofertilizer treatment and the highest harvest indice and seed core percentage was obtained from chemical fertilizer treatment. In density treatments, the highest biologic yield and protein percent 2 were obtained from 27 plants/m density and the highest seed yield, harvest indice and 2 2 oil yield were obtained from 20 plants/m density and in 13 plants/m density, the highest traits were the weight of 1000 seeds, number of seeds per capitula and number of capitulas/plant. Keywords: biofertilizer, nitrogen, density, yield, yield component, safflower Introduction Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius .L) along with Canola, Sunflower, Sesame, Soybean and Cotton are the main seed crops in eastern countries since long ago. In order to establish necessary conditions for better use of natural reactions like biologic fixation of nitrogen by biofertilizers, interests have been raised toward environmental friendly sustainable practices which can reduce input costs (Salantur et al, 2005). N2-fixing plays an important role in plant nutrition by increasing nitrogen uptake by plant and playing a significant role as plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) in biofertilization of crops. PGRP are able to exert a beneficial upon plant growth by Nitrogen fixation and phosphorus solublization (Zaidi et al, 2006), production of antibiotics (Zahir et al, 2004), and increase root uptake of water and minerals are the principle mechanism of 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 promoting bacteria that actively colonize plant root and increase plant yield and growth by production of phytohormones, asymbiotic N2 fixation, fight against phytopathogenic microorganisms by production of

Intl. J. Agron. Plant. Prod. Vol., 4 (3), 524-529, 2013

siderophores, synthesis of antibiotics, enzymes and fungicidal compounds and also solubilization of mineral phosphates and other nutrients(Gholami et al, 2009). Behl et al (2003) indicated that Azotobacter and Micorhiza increased seed yield, seed number, 1000 seed weight and biological yield of wheat. Zahir et al (1998) reported 19.8% increase in seed yield of maize due to dual inoculation of seeds with Azotobacter and Pseudomonas. Titlak et al (1982) reported improving seed yield due to dual inoculation of Azotobacter and Azospirillum. Biofertilizer, Phosphate Barvar-2 contains a group of phosphate solubilizing bacteria like Pseudomonas and Bacillus 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 and sterile manure in powder form and contain sulfur microelements and Thiobacillus. its formulation consist of 70% 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 with increase in number of capitula in cubic meter, weight of 100 seeds and number of seeds in each plant was 2 reduced. Raju et al(2006) reported that the most suitable density for safflower was 20 plants/m which had the highest yield and economical output. The aim of this research was evaluation of suitable fertilizers like Nitroxin, Phosphate Barvar-2 and Alkan and possibility of replacement of chemical fertilizers with biofertilizers and finding the suitable density in increment 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 of Agriculture Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz( south-western Iran) during 2010-2011 growing season with 41 48 longitude and 31 20' latitude. The soil sample was collected from 30 centimeter depth and the following 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 was silty loam. The experimental design was used as a randomized split plot arrangement with three replications. Each plot 2 was 2.5x2.5 m 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 each part was applied before sowing, branching and flowering stages. Standard biofertilizers ie Nitroplaskin 1liter/kg seed, Phosphor Barvar-2 100gr/100 kg seed and Alkan 800 kg/ha were used for 100% biologic fertilizer treatment. For combination of biologic and chemical fertilizer treatment one half was chemical and the other half was biologic fertilizer. Seeds were sown on the top of the rows in 4 cm depth the distance 2 between seeds was calculated according to densities ie 13, 20 and 27 plants/m . first irrigation was done just after sowing. The plant were weeded out in 2 steps, first at 4 leave stage and second at 6 leave stage 30 and 45 days after sowing and irrigation was continued every 8-10 days. Weeds were weeded out during growth season specially in first 12 weeks afterward it was done once weekly. After maturation and before harvest 5 plants were choosen randomly for evaluation of traits like number of capitulas/plant, number of seeds/capitula. For determination of yield, after complete maturation of plants, the plants in one cubic meter from 2 middle rows were choosen and used for determination of weight of 1000 seeds, harvest indice, oil percentage, 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/ capitula 2 was higher in biofertilizer treatment in 13 plants/m 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 et al, 1991) in sunflower and safflower respectively indicated the possibility of saving of 25% of inorganic N by seed inoculation with biofertilizers. The number of capitula/plant and the weight of 1000 seeds were highest 2 in biofertilizer treatment with 13 plants/m density but there was no significant difference between all the treatments. Such increases in number of capitula/plant and the weight of 1000 seeds may be due to increased plant accessibility to nutrients and increased absorption of nutrients and minerals as a result of improved 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 the 2 highest seed yield was in the combination of biofertilizer and chemical fertilizer treatments with 20 plants/m 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( Dobbelaere et al, 2001). 2 Harvest indice was higher in 100% chemical fertilizer treatment in 20 plants/m density but there was no significant difference among the treatments. The harvest indice express the ratio of distribution of photosynthetic material between seed yield and biologic yield. The lower the biologic yield the higher the harvest indice and as the density increases the harvest indice would decrease. A similar result was reported by (Beech and Norman, 1963).the results showed that the biologic yield was highest in biofertilizer treatmet 2 with 27 plants/m density but there was no significant difference among the treatments. This can be due to increased plant accessibility to nutrients and increased absorption of nutrients and minerals as a result of improved reproductive growth and increase of dry matter in surface area unit. Our results are in agreement with results reported by (Saeednejad et al, 2009). The results showed that oil content (percentage) was 2 much higher in biofertilizer treatment with 20 plants/m density as compared to all other treatments but there was no significant difference among the treatments. This can be due to fixation of atmospheric Nitrogen and increment of phosphorus availability in soil by biofertilizers which can enhance absorption of nutrients and elements by plants. This result is consistent with results reported by (Shehata, M. M. and S. A. El-Khawas, 2 2003). Oil yield was highest in biofertilizer treatment with 20 plants/m density as compared to all other treatments but there was no significant difference among the treatments. Oil yield was under the direct effect of oil percentage. Sajadinik et al(1990) reported a similar result. Protein percentage was highest in 2 combination of biofertilizer and chemical fertilizer treatment with 27 plants/m density as compared to other treatments but there were no all other treatments but there was no significant difference among the treatments. A similar result was reported by Sajadinik et al(1990). With increase in density, the weight of 1000 seeds and carbohydrate percentage were decreased and this resulted in increment of protein percentage.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/m but there was no significant difference among the treatments. Chemical fertilizer supply nutrients to the plant since beginning and this causes increase in seed kernel. Conclusion According to results obtained we can conclude that the use of biofertilizers alone or with combination with chemical fertilizers can cause increment in biologic yield, seed yield and some of seed yield components and decrease the intensive use of chemical fertilizers and other chemicals which produced harmful environmental problems and increased production costs. The best density for safflower agricultural practices 2 is 20 plants/m .

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Table 1: Analysis of variance of some recorded traits under the effect of biological fertilizer and density
S.O.V Treatments Fertilizer(a) Error of a Density(b) Fer*Den Total Error C.V total DF 2 2 4 2 4 12 26 Weight of 1000 seeds 4.4760* 0.12783 ns 0.4235 0.3640 ns 0.3164 ns 0.6253 3.0125 Seed yield 14936.037 ns 96.64148 ns 14685.74370 3325.65481 ns 1856.86815 ns 5846.7681 20.23258 Biologic yield 450591.0* 76801.9026 ns 187188.5715 284024.6293 ns 106451.7793 ns 99090.086 17.1396 MS Harvest Indice 101.5528926* 15.1651370 ns 19.2779148 38.1039815* 19.8911370 ns 9.444 14.61717 Number of heads/plant 6.0206 ns 115.3275 * 41.9216 301.8513 * 11.0942 ns 24.3590 20.3407 Number of seeds/head 40.8608 ns 54.1419 ns 43.3199 43.5786 ns 37.1035 ns 46.8922 13.1240 Protein percent 1.10555 ns 7.55094 ns 6.08841 3.65824 ns 9.90365 ns 4.79239 13.30673 Oil yield 285.213 ns 105.652 ns 1235.036 4516.894* 1722.553 ns 9592.503 ns 21.714 Oil percent 38.111ns 10.333 ns 24.111 166.333* 145.666* 35.666 17.172 Seed kernel% 21.1397 ns 14.6282 ns 104.1933 20.6604 ns 41.5190 ns 45.5138 15.4850

ns= not significant

*= significant

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

treatme Experimental Treatments a1
Chemical fertilizer

W of 1000 seeds
a

Seed yield
a

Biolo yield
a

Harv Indice
a

N of h/plant
ab

N of S/head
a

Protein percent
a

Oil yield
a

Oil percent
a

Seed kernel%
a

26.13 26.37
a

a2
Biofertilizer

375.00
a

1735.90
a

22.37
a

24.17
a

52.12
a

16.2122
a

129.97
a

34.33 36.00 34.00 36.00 38.33 30.00

58.91

377.31
a

1916.50
a

19.78
a

27.88
b

54.65
a

15.6789 17.4633
a

a3
chemical+biofertilizer

133.05
a

55.84 57.90 57.99 57.14 57.52

26.24 26.45
a

381.46
a

1859.82
a

20.90
a

20.72
a

49.75
a

126.21
ab

b1 b2 b3

ab

2 13 plant/m density 2 20 plant/m density

370.00
a

1671.25
a

22.20
a

30.54
b

54.35
a

15.7222
a

132.44
a

26.24
a

399.84
a

1816.33
a

22.21
a

23.10
b

52.23
a

16.7289
a

150.68
b

2 27 plant/m density

26.04 388.44 Interactions of fertilizer and density a1 b1 26.02 a 369.73 a a1 b2 26.10 a 381.66 a a1 b3 26.28 a 373.60 a a a2 b1 26.87 354.26 a a2 b2 26.22 a 395.66 a a2 b3 26.01 a 382.00 a a a3 b1 26.45 386.00 a a3 b2 26.42 a 422.20 a a3 b3 25.85 a 336.25 a

2124.53 1778.10 a 1572.93 a 1856.66 a 1604.53 a 2080.46 a 2064.60 a 1631.13 a 1795.60 a 2152.73 a

18.61 20.99 a 24.70 a 21.44 a 21.83 a 18.96 a 18.56 a 23.80 a 22.97 a 15.93 a

19.13 30.53 ab 20.88 bc 21.11 bc 34.77 a 25.66 ab 22.00 bc 26.33 ab 20.66 bc 15.19 c

49.95 57.39 a 52.84 a 46.12 a 56.02 a 52.87 a 56.17 a 49.63 a 51.52 a 48.10 a

16.9033 17.2033 ab 14.5200 ab 16.9133 ab 13.3833 b 17.8767 a 15.7767 ab 16.5800 ab 17.7900 a 18.0200 a

106.12 114.88 b 178.71 a 96.34 b 135.74 ab 136.25 ab 146.08 ab 146.71 ab 137.08 ab 94.85 b

31.00 bc 47.00 a 25.00 c 38.33 ab 34.66 bc 35.00 bc 38.33 ab 33.33 bc 30.00 bc

59.83 a 59.37 a 57.55 a 58.44 a 53.39 a 55.70 a 55.72 a 58.66 a 59.32 a

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