EFFECT OF TIME OF HARVESTING AND NITROGEN LEVEL ON YIELD AND QUALITY OF SAFFLOWER (CARTHAMUS-TINCTORIUS)

An experiment was conducted during 1986-87 and 198748 on Vertisols to find out the effect of 4 levels of N and 6 dates of harvesting on yield and quality of 'JSF 1' saffloWer (Carthamus tinctorius L). Optimum grain, oil and protein yields were obtained when the crop was harvested at 145-160 days after sowing. The moisture content of grain at this period was 5-15%. Early harvesting by 5-10 days reduced the grain yield by 16-28.5% due to the presence of high percentage of immature grains (34-56%) and low 1000-grain weight (65-67 g). It also reduced the oil and protein contents and seed germination but had no effect on oil quality. Nitrogen fertilization up to 30 kg/ha significantly increased the grain (20.5%). oil (37%) and protein (45%) yields. Higher doses of N did not significantly improve 1000-grain weight, germination (%) and protein content but decreased the oil content. Nitrogen did not show any effect on optimum time of harvest and oil quality.