Growth and yield response of safflower under pongamia based agroforestry system

A field investigation was conducted at Main Agricultural Research Station, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, Karnataka, India. Eleven seed sources of Pongamia pinnata were selected from three provenances from Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka to identify suitable seed sources for inclusion in agroforestry condition and to study their effect on safflower productivity. Results revealed that pongamia source RAK-89 recorded highest growth attributes viz., height (5.05 m), diameter at breast height (11.86 cm), crown area (4.98 m2/tree) and number of branches (38.16) followed by MTP-II. Safflower under RAK-89 Pongamia source recorded significantly higher total dry matter when compared to other Pongamia sources. Leaf dry matter, stem dry weight and capitulum dry weight of safflower was maximum in sole safflower when compared to safflower under different Pongamia sources. Maximum safflower seed yield was obtained in DPS-4 + safflower (1.5m and 3m; 430.70 and 442.53 kg ha⁻¹) compared to MTP-I + safflower (1.5 m and 3 m; 277.40 and 284.53 kg ha⁻¹). Reduction in yield in safflower was maximum under MTP-II + safflower Pongamia source compared to DPS-4 + safflower Pongamia source.