Potential of Safflower to Mitigate Nitrate Leaching.
(A06-yau525538-poster)
Authors:
S. Yau* - American Univ. of Beirut J. Ryan - ICARDA
Abstract:
The deep root system of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) may be able to take up moisture and nutrients especially nitrogen (N) that have been leached below the rooting zone of other crops.
Therefore, we investigated safflower growth response in relation to N application. Field experiments were conducted for 2 years under rainfed conditions at a site in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley (513 mm long-term annual precipitation). There were three N application rates: 0, 40, and 80 kg ha-1, with three or six replicates. The mean soil mineral N (0–20 cm) was 21.8 mg kg-1 in 2000–01, and 37.7 mg kg-1 (0–30 cm) in 2001–02. Seed and straw yield, leaf chlorophyll content, shoot and seed nitrogen content, and other agronomic characters were measured. No significant response to N application was detected, except for N concentration in the lower part of the shoot at maturity in 2001–02. In 2001–02, an N yield of 125 kg ha-1 was obtained from the control, suggesting that safflower is an efficient user of carryover N from prior cropping. Planting safflower after a fertilized crop may reduce nitrate leaching to the groundwater, and thus be environment-friendly, besides saving on the cost of N fertilizers.
Speaker Information: Sui-Kwong Yau, American Univ. of Beirut, FAFS, AUB Bliss Street P.O. Box:
11-0236, Beirut, ; Phone: 961-8-345151; E-mail: [email protected]
Session Information: Tuesday, November 4, 2003, 4:00 PM-6:00 PM Presentation Start: 4:00 PM (Poster Board Number: 311)
Keywords: safflower; semi-arid areas; response to nitrogen; nitrate leaching
