Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.)

1. Origin and History

• Origin: Mediterranean region (Egypt, Middle East).
• Cultivated since 2500 B.C. for dyes (Carthamin) and later for oil.
• Introduced to India in ancient times; now an important Rabi oilseed crop.

2. General Information

• Family: Asteraceae (Compositae).
• Oil content: 30–35%.
• Protein: 18–20%.
• Oil rich in linoleic acid (70–75%) → heart-friendly oil.
• Duration: 120–150 days.
• Grown mostly under rainfed conditions.

3. Area, Production & Distribution (India, 2023)

• Area: ~2.5 lakh ha.
• Production: ~1.6 lakh tonnes.
• States: Maharashtra (60% area) > Karnataka > Andhra Pradesh > Madhya Pradesh.
• India contributes ~50% of world safflower area.

4. Climatic Requirements

• Cool, dry Rabi climate.
• Temp: 18–26°C.
• Rainfall: 300–500 mm (requires dry weather during flowering & maturity).
• Drought tolerant, but sensitive to waterlogging.

5. Soil

• Suited to well-drained deep black cotton soils.
• Also grows on loamy soils.
• pH: 6.0–8.0.

6. Varieties

• Spiny types (high yielding): Bhima, Nira, JSI-7, A-1.
• Non-spiny types: Manjira, Surya, Sharda, JSI-73.

7. Agronomy

• Season: Rabi (Oct–Nov).
• Seed rate: 10–15 kg/ha.
• Spacing: 45 × 20 cm.
• Fertilizer: 40–60 kg N + 20–40 kg P₂O₅ + 20 kg S/ha.
• Irrigation: Usually rainfed, but 1–2 irrigations (flowering & seed filling) improve yields.

8. Weed Management

• Critical stage: 20–40 DAS.
• 2 hand weedings (20 & 40 DAS).
• Pendimethalin @ 1.0 kg a.i./ha (PE) effective.

9. Pests & Diseases

• Pests: Safflower caterpillar (Perigea capensis), aphids.
• Diseases: Alternaria blight, wilt, rust.

10. Uses

• Oil: edible, rich in PUFA (linoleic acid).
• Flowers: source of natural dye (Carthamin).
• Oilcake: cattle feed.

11. Important MCQ Facts

• Botanical name: Carthamus tinctorius.
• Family: Asteraceae.
• Origin: Mediterranean.
• Oil: 30–35%, linoleic acid ~70–75%.
• Seed rate: 10–15 kg/ha.
• Major pest: Aphids.
• Major disease: Alternaria blight.

Niger (Guizotia abyssinica Cass.)

1. Origin and History

• Origin: Ethiopia (primary centre).
• India is secondary centre of diversity.
• Ancient oilseed of tribal regions.

2. General Information

• Family: Asteraceae (Compositae).
• Oil content: 35–40%.
• Protein: 20–22%.
• Oil rich in linoleic acid (70%), similar to sunflower.
• Duration: 90–100 days → short-duration crop.
• Mostly grown under tribal, rainfed, low-input conditions.

3. Area, Production & Distribution (India, 2023)

• Area: ~2.5 lakh ha.
• Production: ~1.2 lakh tonnes.
• States: Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand.
• India: largest producer of Niger seed globally.

4. Climatic Requirements

• Warm & humid climate.
• Temperature: 18–30°C.
• Rainfall: 1000–1200 mm (tolerates high rainfall better than most oilseeds).
• Drought tolerant; also grows in tribal uplands.

5. Soil

• Best in well-drained light soils.
• Suited for poor, degraded, acidic soils of tribal belts.
• pH: 5.0–7.0.

6. Varieties: GA-7, GA-10, Ootacamund-9, Indira Niger-1, JNC-6.

7. Agronomy

• Season: Kharif (June–July sowing).
• Seed rate: 8–10 kg/ha.
• Spacing: 30 × 10 cm.
• Fertilizer: Low requirement → 20–30 kg N + 20–30 kg P₂O₅/ha.
• Irrigation: Usually rainfed, needs no irrigation.

8. Weed Management

• Critical stage: 20–30 DAS.
• 1–2 hand weedings sufficient.
• Pendimethalin @ 1.0 kg a.i./ha (PE) effective.

9. Pests & Diseases

• Pests: Bihar hairy caterpillar, leaf roller.
• Diseases: Powdery mildew, Alternaria blight, Cercospora leaf spot.

10. Uses

• Edible oil: good frying quality, light, easily digestible.
• Oilcake: rich in protein, used in cattle & poultry feed.
• Exported to USA & Europe (bird feed market).

11. Important MCQ Facts

• Botanical name: Guizotia abyssinica.
• Family: Asteraceae.
• Origin: Ethiopia.
• Oil: 35–40%, linoleic acid ~70%.
• Seed rate: 8–10 kg/ha.
• Major pest: Bihar hairy caterpillar.
• Major disease: Powdery mildew.
• Special note: India = largest producer of Niger in the world.