NITROGEN AND POTASSIUM IN SAFFLOWER: CHLOROPHYLL INDEX, BIOMETRIC CHARACTERISTICS AND WATER USE EFFICIENCY

ABSTRACT Safflower crops is usually intended for production of seeds to oil extraction. The objective of this work was to evaluate the chlorophyll index, biometric characteristics and water use efficiency of safflower plants grown under different nitrogen and potassium rates and controlled soil water tension. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse, in pots containing 8 dm3 of a Oxisol. A complete randomized block experimental design in a 5x5 factorial arrangement was used, with four replications, consisting of five nitrogen rates (0, 60, 120, 180 and 240 mg dm-3) and five potassium rates (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 mg dm-3). The safflower number of leaves, stem diameter, chlorophyll index, number of capitula, shoot, root and total dry weights, water consumption and water use efficiency were evaluated. Data were subjected to analysis of variance (F test) at 5% of probability and to polynomial regression. The nitrogen and potassium fertilization, as independent factors, affected the safflower plants. The chlorophyll index, biometric characteristics and water use efficiency of safflower showed better responses under nitrogen rates of 82 to 168 mg dm-3. The responses of chlorophyll index, biometric characteristics and water use efficiency of safflower increased 10 to 60% with potassium fertilization.