Safflower — 3Land preparation & sowing

• Field preparation and manure

  Plough 2–3 times with a tractor-drawn mould board plough or 5 times with a country plough, breaking the clods between ploughings to a fine tilth. Spread 12.5 t/ha of FYM, compost or composted coir pith and incorporate it; do not leave the manure exposed to sunlight, as nutrients will be lost.

  Pending expert review

  Source

  Crop Production Guide – Agriculture 2020 (Directorate of Agriculture, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Safflower – Field preparation; application of FYM, p. 224

  Region

  Tamil Nadu

  Last updated

  2026-11-04

• Seed rate, sowing and thinning

  Use 10 kg of good-quality seed per hectare. Sow in lines 2–3 cm deep with a gorru or country plough, at 45 cm between rows; the first week of November is the best sowing time in the source region. Thin to 15 cm between plants on the 15th day.

  Pending expert review

  Source

  Crop Production Guide – Agriculture 2020 (Directorate of Agriculture, Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU)), Safflower – Seed rate, spacing, sowing & thinning, p. 225

  Region

  Tamil Nadu

  Last updated

  2026-11-04