GROWNOTES
PLANNING/PADDOCK PREPARATION
PRE-PLANTING
PLANTING
PLANT GROWTH AND PHYSIOLOGY
NUTRITION AND FERTILISER
WEED CONTROL
INSECT CONTROL
NEMATODE MANAGEMENT
DISEASES PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS AND
CANOPY MANAGEMENT
CROP DESICCATION AND SPRAY OUT
HARVEST
STORAGE
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
MARKETING
CURRENT AND PAST RESEARCH
KEY CONTACTS
NORTHERN
SAFFLOWERS
March 2017
DISCLAIMER:
Any recommendations, suggestions or opinions contained in this publicati\
on do not necessarily represent the
policy or views of the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC). No person should act on t\
he
basis of the contents of this publication without first obtaining specif\
ic, independent professional advice.
The Grains Research and Development Corporation may identify products by proprietary or trade names to
help readers identify particular types of products. We do not endorse or recommend the products of any
manufacturer referred to. Other products may perform as well as or better than those specifically referred to.
The GRDC will not be liable for any loss, damage, cost or expense incurred or arising by reason of any person
using or relying on the information in this publication.
caution: research on Unregistered agricultural chemical Use
Any research with unregistered agricultural chemicals or of unregistered\
products reported in this document
does not constitute a recommendation for that particular use by the auth\
ors or the author’s organisations. All
agricultural chemical applications must accord with the currently regist\
ered label for that particular pesticide,
crop, pest and region.
Copyright ©Grains Research and Development Corporation, March 2017.
All material published in this GrowNote™ is copyright protected and may not be reproduced in any form
without written permission from the GRDC.
ISBN: 978-1-921779-13-8
iii
SAFFLOWERS
March 2017
What’s new
The GRDC GrowNotes are dynamic documents that are updated according to user
feedback and newly available information.
This version of the GRDC Safflower GrowNotes (updated March 2017) contains the
following updates on original content published in August 2015:
Section a: Introduction
Page xiii
• New link: Research paper: Greijdanus A, Kragt M. (2014). The grains industry: An
overview of the Australian broad-acre cropping: http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/
bitstream/164256/2/WP1400002.pdf
• New information: Tactical agronomy of safflower and linseed: place in the
rotation, yield potential, time of sowing, plant growth and marketing; https://grdc.
com.au/Research-and-Development/GRDC-Update-Papers/2016/03/Tactical-
agronomy-of-safflower-and-linseed
Page xiv
• New information: Tactical agronomy of safflower and linseed: place in the
rotation, yield potential, time of sowing, plant growth and marketing; https://grdc.
com.au/Research-and-Development/GRDC-Update-Papers/2016/03/Tactical-
agronomy-of-safflower-and-linseed
Page xvi
• New information: Tactical agronomy of safflower and linseed: place in the
rotation, yield potential, time of sowing, plant growth and marketing; https://grdc.
com.au/Research-and-Development/GRDC-Update-Papers/2016/03/Tactical-
agronomy-of-safflower-and-linseed
Page xvii
• New information: Tactical agronomy of safflower and linseed: place in the
rotation, yield potential, time of sowing, plant growth and marketing; https://grdc.
com.au/Research-and-Development/GRDC-Update-Papers/2016/03/Tactical-
agronomy-of-safflower-and-linseed
Page xviii
• New podcast: Development may herald new oilseeds industry: https://grdc.com.
au/Media-Centre/GRDC-Podcasts/Ground-Cover-Radio/2015/11/Ground-Cover-
Radio-119-Development-may-herald-new-oilseeds-industry
Section 1: Pre-planting/Paddock preparation
Page 1.3
• New information: Tactical agronomy of safflower and linseed: place in the
rotation, yield potential, time of sowing, plant growth and marketing; https://grdc.
com.au/Research-and-Development/GRDC-Update-Papers/2016/03/Tactical-
agronomy-of-safflower-and-linseed
Page 1.6
• Weed control in winter crops 2016: http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/
broadacre-crops/winter-crops/general-disorders-of-crops/weed-
control-winter-crops
Page 1.7
• SoilWaterApp – a new tool to measure and monitor soil water: https://grdc.com.
au/Research-and-Development/GRDC-Update-Papers/2016/02/SoilWaterApp-a-
new-tool-to-measure-and-monitor-soil-water
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iv
SAFFLOWERS
March 2017
Page 1.8
• New information: Tactical agronomy of safflower and linseed: place in the
rotation, yield potential, time of sowing, plant growth and marketing; https://grdc.
com.au/Research-and-Development/GRDC-Update-Papers/2016/03/Tactical-
agronomy-of-safflower-and-linseed
Page 1.10
• New information: Tactical agronomy of safflower and linseed: place in the
rotation, yield potential, time of sowing, plant growth and marketing; https://grdc.
com.au/Research-and-Development/GRDC-Update-Papers/2016/03/Tactical-
agronomy-of-safflower-and-linseed
Page 1.11
• New information: Tactical agronomy of safflower and linseed: place in the
rotation, yield potential, time of sowing, plant growth and marketing; https://grdc.
com.au/Research-and-Development/GRDC-Update-Papers/2016/03/Tactical-
agronomy-of-safflower-and-linseed
Section 2: Pre-planting
Page 2.2
• New information: Grain could drive new Australian oil trade: https://grdc.com.
au/Media-Centre/Ground-Cover/Ground-Cover-Issue-119-Nov-Dec-2015/Grain-
could-drive-new-Australian-oil-trade
Section 5: Nutrition and fertiliser
Page 5.1
• New section: Declining soil fertility
Section 6: Weed control
Page 6.1
• Weed control in winter crops 2016: http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/
broadacre-crops/winter-crops/general-disorders-of-crops/weed-
control-winter-crops
Page 6.2
• New table: Weed control in winter crops 2016: http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/
agriculture/broadacre-crops/winter-crops/general-disorders-of-crops/weed-
control-winter-crops
Section 7: Insect control
Page 7.3
• New information: Weekly trap catch data for H. punctigera and H. armigera from
locations across all states: https://jamesmaino.shinyapps.io/MothTrapVis/
Section 13: Storage
Page 13.1
• Stored Grain Information Hub: http://storedgrain.com.au/
• Storing oilseeds. Stored Grain Information Hub: http://storedgrain.com.au/
storing-oilseeds/
• New information: Part I Achieving great aeration results and Part II Silo
recirculation as an aid to fumigation: https://grdc.com.au/Research-and-
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SAFFLOWERS
March 2017
Development/GRDC-Update-Papers/2016/07/Part-I-Achieving-great-aeration-
results-and-Part-II-Silo-recirculation-as-an-aid-to-fumigation
Section 14: Environmental issues
Page 14.1
• New information: Managing frost risk. Northern, Southern and Western Regions.
GRDC Tips and Tactics: http://www.grdc.com.au/ManagingFrostRisk
• New information: An analysis of frost impact plus guidelines to reduce frost risk
and assess frost damage: https://grdc.com.au/Research-and-Development/
GRDC-Update-Papers/2016/07/An-analysis-of-frost-impact-plus-guidelines-to-
reduce-frost-risk-and-assess-frost-damage
Section 15: Marketing
Page 15.1
• New text, tables and figures: Profarmer Australia
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vi
SAFFLOWERS
March 2017
Start here for answers to
your immediate safflowers
crop management issues
What varieties of Safflower are
available?
What is the sowing rate for
Safflower?
What herbicides options do I have
in Safflower?
What are the rotational benefits of
Safflower?
When can I harvest Safflower?
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10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
1.5 4.0 cm
Always use \fuality s\eeed a\bd
DO NOT SOW TOO DEEP
Safower re\fuires
MORE W\fTER
tha\b ca\bola, e\bsure th\eat moisture is availabl\ee to at least
at sowi\bg
1METRE
Minimis\b wat\brlogging\R
whe\b irrigati\bg safo\ewer, a\bd/or ll the
soil pro le before s\eowi\bg
Keep the market a\bd e\bd use i\b
mi\bd whe\b selecti\bg var\eieties a\bd
consid\br forward contr\Racts
if o\b-farm storage is\e \bot available
Early sowing
is importa\bt to
maximise yields i\b
drier situatio\bs Use moderate sowi\bg ra\etes,
especially whe\b sowi\e\bg early
i\b drier situatio\bs
Incr\bas\b
sowi\bg rate for very\e late sowi\bg
Monitor crops r\bgularly for p\bsts
9 18
KG/H\f
I\b wetter situatio\bs i\e\b souther\b
Australia, safower c\ea\b be sow\b
much lat\br without
sig\bi ca\btly afecti\bg\e yield
JUNE JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER
Select paddocks carefully because \e
f\bw\br h\brbicid\bs ar\b a\Rvailabl\b
for use i\b safower t\eha\b i\b the more widely \e
grow\b crops (some permits a\ere available).
Supply
ad\bquat\b nutrition
(fertiliser)
N S P
Consid\br on-farm stora\Rg\b
of safower to e\bable \eaccess to more lucrative markets
Harv\bst during cool\br\R conditions
to improve clea\bli\bess\e of seed a\bd reduce the\e risk of re
Ma\bage pests a\bd weeds \eduri\bg
EST\fBLISHMENT \fND E\fRLY GROWTH
Harv\bst as soon as
crops ar\b matur\b
a\bd be careful to avo\eid seed
damage, which reduces \fual\eity,
a\bd to avoid blocki\bg\e e\fuipme\bt
vii
SAFFLOWERS
March 2017
Keys to successful safflower production
10234521
1
viii
March 2017
coNtENtS
ContentsSAFFLOWERS
What’s new
Introduction
A.1 Safflower agronomy at a glance ........................................................................\
... xiv
A.2 Crop overview ........................................................................\
.................................... xv
A.2.1 Marketing safflower ........................................................................\
........................ xvi
Seed ............................................................................................................\
........................................ xvi
Linoleic oil .............................................................................................................\
............................ xvii
A.2.2 Potential industry growth ........................................................................\
............. xvii
A.2.3 Safflower production in Australia ....................................................................... xvii
A.3 End uses ........................................................................\
........................................... xviii
1 Planning/Paddock preparation
1.1 Paddock selection ........................................................................\
............................... 1
1.2 Paddock rotation and history ........................................................................\
........... 2
1.3 Benefits of safflower as a rotation crop ................................................................. 3
1.3.1 Break crop ........................................................................\
.......................................... 4
1.3.2 Enterprise diversification ........................................................................\
................ 4
1.3.3 Drought tolerance ........................................................................\
............................. 4
1.3.4 Tool for managing problem weeds ....................................................................... 4
1.3.5 Entry crop and soil ameliorant ........................................................................\
........ 5
1.3.6 Tool for managing salinity and waterlogging .................................................... 5
1.3.7 Pest deterrence ........................................................................\
................................. 5
1.4 Disadvantages of safflower as a rotation crop ..................................................... 5
1.5 Fallow weed control ........................................................................\
........................... 6
1.6 Seedbed requirements ........................................................................\
...................... 6
1.7 Soil moisture ........................................................................\
......................................... 7
1.7.1 Soil moisture use ........................................................................\
................................ 7
1.7.2 Dryland ........................................................................\
.................................................. 8
1.7.3 Irrigation ........................................................................\
................................................ 8
1.8 Yield and targets ........................................................................\
................................ 8
1.8.1 Seasonal outlook ........................................................................\
............................... 9
1.8.2 Fallow moisture ........................................................................\
................................. 9
1.8.3 Water Use Efficiency ........................................................................\
......................... 9
1.8.4 Nitrogen-use efficiency ........................................................................\
.................. 10
1.8.5 Double-crop options ........................................................................\
....................... 10
contents
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March 2017
coNtENtS
ContentsSAFFLOWERS
1.9 Disease status of paddock ........................................................................\
.............. 10
1.9.1 Cropping history effects ........................................................................\
.................. 11
2 Pre-planting
2.1 Safflower varieties ........................................................................\
............................... 1
2.1.1 High-oleic safflower ........................................................................\
........................... 2
2.2 Planting seed quality ........................................................................\
......................... 3
2.2.1 Seed size ........................................................................\
.............................................. 3
2.2.2 Seed germination and vigour ........................................................................\
......... 3
2.2.3 Seed storage ........................................................................\
....................................... 4
2.2.4 Safe rates of fertiliser sown with the seed ..........................................................4
3 Planting
3.1 Seed treatments ........................................................................\
.................................. 1
3.2 Time of sowing: yield losses due to delay, frost-risk timing ................................ 1
3.3 Targeted plant population ........................................................................\
................ 3
3.4 Calculating seed requirements ........................................................................\
........ 4
3.5 Sowing depth ........................................................................\
...................................... 4
3.5.1 Row spacing ........................................................................\
........................................ 5
3.6 Sowing equipment ........................................................................\
............................. 5
4 Plant growth and physiology
4.1 Effect of temperature, photoperiod and climate effects on
plant growth and physiology ........................................................................\
............ 3
4.1.1 Temperature ........................................................................\
........................................ 3
4.1.2 Wind and hail ........................................................................\
....................................... 4
4.2 Plant growth stages ........................................................................\
........................... 4
4.2.1 Emergence and early growth ........................................................................\
......... 4
4.2.2 Stem elongation and branching ........................................................................\
..... 4
4.2.3 Flowering to maturity ........................................................................\
........................ 5
5 Nutrition and fertiliser
5.1 Declining soil fertility ........................................................................\
.......................... 1
5.1.1 Soil organic matter ........................................................................\
.............................. 1
5.1.2 Current situation ........................................................................\
................................. 4
5.1.3 Options for reversing the decline in soil organic matter .................................5
Impact of fertiliser N inputs on soil ........................................................................\
....................... 7
5.2 Crop removal rates ........................................................................\
............................ 8
5.3 Soil testing ........................................................................\
........................................... 8
5.4 Plant and/or tissue testing for nutrition levels ...................................................... 8
5.5 Nitrogen ........................................................................\
.............................................. 8
5.6 Phosphorus ........................................................................\
........................................ 8
5.7 Sulfur ........................................................................\
.................................................... 9
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March 2017
coNtENtS
ContentsSAFFLOWERS
5.7.1 Potassium ........................................................................\
............................................. 9
5.8 Micronutrients ........................................................................\
..................................... 9
6 Weed control
6.1 Registered herbicides ........................................................................\
........................ 2
6.2 Potential herbicide damage effects ........................................................................\
3
7 Insect control
7.1 Aphids (plum, green peach and leaf curl) ............................................................... 1
7.1.1 Damage caused by aphids ........................................................................\
............... 1
7.1.2 Thresholds for control ........................................................................\
....................... 2
7.1.3 Management/control ........................................................................\
......................... 2
7.2 Cutworms (Agrotis spp.) ........................................................................\
.................... 2
7.2.1 Varietal resistance or tolerance ........................................................................\
..... 3
7.2.2 Damage caused by cutworms ........................................................................\
........ 3
7.2.3 Thresholds for control ........................................................................\
....................... 3
7.2.4 Management/control ........................................................................\
......................... 3
7.3 Helicoverpa spp. ........................................................................\
................................. 3
7.3.1 Varietal resistance or tolerance ........................................................................\
..... 3
7.3.2 Damage caused by Helicoverpa ........................................................................\
... 3
7.3.3 Thresholds for control ........................................................................\
....................... 4
7.3.4 Management/control ........................................................................\
......................... 4
7.4 Rutherglen bug (Nysius vinitor) ........................................................................\
....... 4
7.4.1 Varietal resistance or tolerance ........................................................................\
..... 5
7.4.2 Damage caused by Rutherglen bug ..................................................................... 5
7.4.3 Thresholds for control ........................................................................\
....................... 5
7.4.4 Management/control ........................................................................\
......................... 5
7.5 Redlegged earth mites (Halotydeus destructor) and blue oat
mite (Penthaleus major) ........................................................................\
.................... 5
7.5.1 Varietal resistance or tolerance ........................................................................\
..... 6
7.5.2 Damage caused by mites ........................................................................\
................ 6
7.5.3 Thresholds for control ........................................................................\
....................... 6
7.5.4 Management/control ........................................................................\
......................... 6
7.6 Other pests ........................................................................\
........................................... 7
8 Nematode management
9 Diseases
9.1 Alternaria blight (caused by Alternaria carthami) ................................................. 1
9.1.1 Varietal resistance or tolerance ........................................................................\
...... 1
9.1.2 Damage caused by the disease ........................................................................\
...... 1
9.1.3 Symptoms ........................................................................\
............................................ 2
9.1.4 Conditions favouring development ....................................................................... 2
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