Published in Scientific Papers. Series A. Agronomy, Vol. LXVIII, Issue 2
Written by Oana MÎRZAN, Alexandra Andreea BUBURUZ, Margareta NAIE, Doru STANCIU, Mihai STAVARACHE
Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) is an annual herbaceous plant in the Asteraceae family. Safflower was previously cultivated for its seeds and flowers, which were used to add colour and flavour to food, in dyes, and medicine. Recently, the plant has been cultivated mainly for the vegetable oil extracted from the seeds. Saffron flowers are sometimes used as a substitute for safflower. Safflower is one of mankind's oldest crops but remains a minor crop compared to other oilseeds. Today, safflower is mostly cultivated for the production of vegetable oil. The main objective of the present research was to study the biology and productivity of the species Carthamus tinctorius L. with the aim of understanding its adaptability to the climatic conditions in Central Moldova. Safflowers matures 110-150 days after sowing; the optimal harvest time is when the seeds are matte white. Under the conditions of S.C.D.A. Secuieni, the highest seed production was obtained in the variant sown in the first decade of April at a distance of 70 cm between plants/row.
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