Open Access Journal Journal of Progressive Research in Biology (JPRB) ISSN 2454-1672 Volume 2, Issue 1 available at http://scitecresearch.com/journals/index.php/jprb/index 37 SCITECH Volume 2, Issue 1 RESEARCH ORGANISATION Published online on July 15, 2015 Journal of Progressive Research in Biology www.scitecresearch.com/journals Safflower Performance under Different Water Intervals in North and Khartoum States 1 Nahid Abd Alfattah Khalil, 1 Samia Osman Yagoub, 1 Yassin Ibrahim Dagash, 2 Sami Abd elGafar Mahgoub 1 Sudan University of Science and Technology College of Agricultural Studies. 2 University of Dongola College of Agriculture Science. Abstract Two field experiments were conducted at the Experimental farm in Agricultural Studies College, Sudan University of Science and Technology at Khartoum state and Agricultural Science College, Dongola University in Northern State in winter of 2011/2012. The experiments were conducted to study the effect of locations and three water intervals (7,14and 21days) on growth and seed yield of two varieties of safflower,(Gieza and Baldi varieties) .The experiment was laid out in Factorial Randomized Block Design with 3 replications. The results indicated that location and varieties had a significant effect on growth attributes (Plant height, number of leaves/plant, number of branches /plant and stem diameter) and on yield characters ( number of seeds /capsule, thousand seed weight) .Location and variety displayed significant effect on number of seeds /capsules. Geiza variety gave promising results in term of vegetative growth (plant height) and number of seeds/capsule and seed yield more than Baldi (P ≤0.05). Water intervals significant ly affected thousand seed weight and irrigation every 7 and 14 day were more suitable compared to 21 day interval. There were negative correlation between number of seeds /capsule and plant population and stem diameter. Seed yield expressed similar trend with the same parameters. Moreover seed yield was positively correlated with plant population, plant height and number of seeds / capsule Keywords: Safflower; Water Interval; Location; Geiza. Introduction Safflower was originally grown for the flowers that were used in making red and yellow dyes for clothing and food preparation (Robinson, 1976). Today this crop supplies oil, meal, birdseed, and foots (residue from oil processing) for the food and industrial products markets, although the crop is now primarily grown for the oil. The oil of safflower contains nearly 75% linoleic acid, which is considerably higher than corn, soybean, cottonseed, peanut or olive oils. Safflower contributes partially in the world edible and industrial oil market. This merit made safflower an important crop for vegetable oil (Emongor, 2010). The crop has been cultivated for edible oil extraction (McPherson et al. 2004). The oil is light in color and will not get yellow with aging; hence it is used in white and light-colored paints. This oil can also be used as a diesel fuel substitute, but like most vegetable oils, is currently too expensive for this use (Smith and Rust, 1989). The by-products of oil extraction, whole seed or kernel meal, is available for stock feed. All plant can be grazed or stored as hay or silage (Ravi S 2008). The forage is palatable and its feed value and yield are similar to or better than oats or alfalfa (Smith, 1996; Tabatabaei,et al2010).In China safflower is grown as a medicinal plant (Singh, 2007). Safflower is considered as important winter crop in some semiarid regions due to its deep roots and its drought tolerance (Blachshow, 1992; Zaman .et.,al 1998) reported deeper water extraction from sandy loam soils under dry land than under irrigated cultures. Leaf area and evapotranspiration rate reduction, osmotic adjustment and increments in the cell density are other adaptive mechanisms of safflower plants to water stress conditions The effects of water stress on safflower yield has an important goal as (Hashemi Dezfuli,1994) indicated that water stress resulted in a decreased value in plant height and number of heads. Since safflower is known by its efficient use of soil moisture, because of its deep tab root,