INFLUENCE OF GROWTH REGULATORS ON THE QUALITY OF SAFFLOWER SEEDS IN THE CONDITIONS OF THE MIDDLE VOLGA

Abstract

The aim of the research was to assess the sowing qualities and yielding properties of safflower seeds, depending on the use of growth regulators. The research was carried out in 2018-2020 on the experimental field of the Federal State-Funded Scientific Institution Federal Scientific Center of Fibre Crops, a separate subdivision of the Penza Research Institute of Agriculture. The object of research was safflower seeds treated with growth regulators Albite (0.5 l/t), Humate+7 (1.0 l/t), Humate K/Na (1.0 l/t) and Zircon (1.0 l/T). All seeds treated with growth stimulants had strong seedlings, the length of which reached 0.99-1.18 cm, which was 0.07-0.26 cm higher than in the control. Zircon growth regulator promoted an increase in seedling length by 0.26 cm (28.3%) and seedling weight by 1.4 g (25.3%) compared to the control. The maximum seedling weight gain was observed when using Humate K/Na, and amounted to 2.62 g (+47.3% to control). High germinating power was noted in the variant with Zircon application – 78.3%, germination rate – 79.9%. Application of Humate K/Na increased laboratory seed germination up to 81.5%. Weight of 1000 seeds ranged from 39.84 g (when treated with Albite) to 40.95 g (when treated with Humate+7). The highest rate of seed uniformity was noted in variants with Zircon and Humate+7, and amounted to 89.9 and 87.6%. The use of growth regulators reduced seed husk content to 42.7-44.1%, with 46.6% in the control variant. On average, over three years, a higher yield of safflower seeds was noted in variants with Zircon and Humate K/Na growth stimulants, the productivity of which was 1.40-1.54 t/ha and 1.39-1.51 t/ha.

Keywords

• safflower
• seeds
• sowing quality
• germinating power
• laboratory germination capacity
• weight of 1000 seeds
• productivity