Genotypes and sowing dates mediated changes in growth and phenology of Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) in non-traditional area of Northern Telangana Zone (NTZ)

A field experiment entitled “Evaluation of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) cultivars under different sowing dates in non-traditional area of Northern Telangana Zone (NTZ)” is carried out during rabi, 2022-23 in sandy clay loam soils of Regional Agricultural Research Station, Polasa, Jagtial. The main aim of experiment is to find out, suitable safflower cultivar and optimum sowing window of safflower under different sowing dates in non-traditional area of Northern Telangana Zone. Ten treatment combinations were used in the factorial randomized block design of the experiment, which was replicated three times. The treatments includes factor-1 having two genotypes i.e., G₁: ISF-764, G₂: TSF-1 and factor - 2 having five sowing dates i.e., D₁:15th October, D₂:30th October, D₃:15th November, D₄:30th November, D₅:15th December. The results of the research revealed that, among two genotypes plant height was significantly highest with G₂: TSF-1 (121.7 cm) due to its genetic character and dry matter production (1252.9 g m^-2), leaf area index (1.84), SPAD chlorophyll readings (18.8). Crop sown on D₂:30^th October showed significantly higher plant height (108.9 cm), LAI (2.15), dry matter production (1352 g m^-2), SPAD chlorophyll readings (18.3) compared to other dates of sowing but it was also statistically on par with crop sown on D₁:15^th October for most of the parameters. Lowest growth parameters was noticed with crop sown on D₅: 15^th December. The interaction effect between genotypes and dates of sowing showed no significant effect on all parameters. Among genotypes G₁: ISF-764 showed maximum number of days to attain rosette stage (26), flowering stage (73) and physiological maturity (108). Interaction of dates of sowing and genotypes showed no significant effect on number of days to attain rosette stage, flowering stage and physiological maturity. The number of days to attain different phenophases varied with dates of sowing days to rosette stage (28), flowering stage (78) and physiological maturity (111) were significantly higher with crop sown on D₁: 15^th October compared to other dates of sowing and lowest number of days to rosette stage (22), flowering stage (67) and physiological maturity (104) was recorded with crop sown on D₅: 15^th December.