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Crop Rotation

Safflower has many benefits for crop rotations in California. Because of its aggressive root system, there can be improved infiltration rates resulting from safflower roots penetrating deeply into the soil. Safflower is frequently grown without irrigation as a soil conditioning and weed-control measure on land that otherwise is irrigated. It is a good rotation crop for wheat, barley, tomatoes, corn, or sugarbeets in either a dry-farmed (non-irrigated) or irrigated crop rotation system. In years with adequate to abundant winter rainfall, dryland wheat crops following safflower tend to produce the highest yields. Successive safflower crops should not be planted, however, because of the danger of serious damage from rust.

Under non-irrigated conditions, if the annual rainfall is sufficient to wet the soil to a depth of 4 feet (1.1 m), safflower usually can be inserted as a crop in an annual cropping program. Where rainfall averages less than 17 inches (430 mm) or where weeds are a problem, the practice of preceding safflower crops with a year of fallow is advisable. Farmers who operate combination livestock-grain systems value safflower in their rotation because crop residues provide good aftermath grazing for sheep and cattle. An estimate of the feeding value of safflower residues is given in Table 3.

Table 3. Feeding value of safflower residues remaining after harvest.
Residue	%
Crude Protein (CP)	7.2
Acid detergent fiber (ADF)	4.3
Total dissolved nutrients (TDN)	45.0

Safflower is used commonly in rotation with cotton in the San Joaquin Valley. It is a good rotation crop for cotton, and cotton yields following safflower are higher than following cotton. Safflower tolerates the saline soils and water in this area and uses the shallow ground water found in some locations, lowering the saturated zone for following crops.

Safflower is grown commonly in the rice-producing regions of the Sacramento Valley. Safflower benefits from the abundant supply of moisture stored by such soils and does not require additional water. Its ability to dry out these soils to considerable depths improves them for succeeding crops. Rotation with safflower aids weed management in subsequent rice crops. Some rice growers, however, have experienced poor safflower growth (except on old levee areas). Safflower crops grown on soils previously planted to rice have been harmed by phosphorus deficiency.

Safflower Contents | Cultural Practices [8]

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Modified: 7 Jun 1999 Comments to webmaster@agric.ucdavis.edu