The Sidney herald., 1957-11-28
Safflower
Continued from page u
Method ard rate Of planting:

Method ard rate OF planting:
There is a very wide range Of
satisfactory methods that can be
used in planting safflower. Mos
of the safflower in dry land wheat
areas is planted with a regular
grain drill at rates between Is
to 80 pounds of seed per acre.
The crop is also very well
adapted to row paintings. The
row width can be anywhere from
20 to AZ inches apart. 1t is, of
course, essential to cultivate rows
that are planted this far apart.
Safflower will usually yield
somewhat more when planted in
cultivated rows than when planted
in solid drilling. However, the ex-
ira yield is only sufficient to COM
pensate for the cost of cultivation.
The only real reason to consider
row planting over solid planting
Irregular grain drill) would be
for better weed control.
When planting safflower in
cultivated rows 20 to AZ inches
apart, the planter should be adj
justed to plant Is to 20 pounds of
seed per acre. This rate of plant
ing is approximately. eight to nine
seeds per foot of row in rows 20
inches apart, and IL to Is seeds
per foot of row in rows 80 inches
apart. When planting with a reg
ular grain drill, a wheat setting of
II bushel go pounds) will plant
approximately % pounds of SAT-
flower per acre. A planting rate
of Is pounds of safflower seed
per acre is three to four seed per
square foot; 20 pounds per acre
approximately five seed per
square foot; and rs pounds per
acre is six to seven seed per
square foot. In solid drilling a
stand of three to five plants is
considered ideal. A uniform spac-
ing of one plant per square foot
will produce maximum yields, but
under most conditions gives poor
weed competition. A stand of 10
plants per square foot will usually
reduce dry land yields because of
competition of plants for available
soil moisture.
If grower intends to use a ro-
tary hoe or harrow for weed con-
troll in solid paintings, plant with
a regular disk drill and not a deep
furrow drill.
Depth Of Seeding:
In general, safflower can be
planted at same depth as wheat.
When planting, it is important to
place seed into moist soil, but
not deeper than four inches. The
deeper seed is planted, the longer
it will take for the plants to
come up. Therefore, don't plant
deeper than necessary to get seed
into good moisture.
SaffIower and Weed
Competition
During the first three to four
weeks after safflower comes up, J
growth is slower than wheat or
barley. Approximately four weeks
after emergence, growth becomes
very rapid, and plants generally
attain their full height by the
end Of June.
Safflower is usually a better '
weed competitor than flax, but
not as good as small grain. Her
,icides such as 2, 4-D cannot be {
Ised on safflower for weed con- |
rol. 1t is, however, possible to
pray adjacent wheat fields with
lon-volatile form of 2,4-D with
,ut damaging safflower. t
Suggestions for Weed Control r
In SafflOwer q
Since eight to twenty days are 1
eouired for safflower emergence /.
when planted in April, weeds may !.
merge before or at the same time !
safflower. Weed growth at this
ime is especially evident when a
aims occur soon after safflower s
$ planted. Most Of these small "