(a) easy soil preparation
Wheat is the best crop of safflower. Select the plot with high dryness and sunny drainage, apply 2500kg compost and 0/5kg calcium superphosphate/kloc per mu, turn it to the depth of 15 cm ~20 cm, level it and rake it carefully.
(2) Breeding methods
Safflowers reproduce by seeds. Before and after Tomb-Sweeping Day in early spring (when the soil moisture is poor, it can be watered once first), and the pit is dug on the whole ground with a row spacing of 24 cm to 30 cm, with a pit depth of 3 cm. Soak the full seeds with warm water (50℃) 10- 15 minutes and take them out. After drying slightly, put 3-5 capsules into each hole. Cover with 3 cm soil and compact slightly. Use 2.5 kilograms of seeds per mu. Sowing time should be sooner rather than later. If it is early, the seedlings will emerge early, the flowers will bloom early, and there will be fewer pests and diseases. If it is late, the growth will be weak and the pests and diseases will be serious. Therefore, in production, covering the ground with plastic film after sowing in early spring can improve the ground temperature and germinate early.
(3) Site management
1. scarifying between seedlings: When the seedlings grow to 9 cm ~ 12 cm, the grass should be forged to loosen the soil, and the seedlings with strong growth, no pests and diseases and moderate size should be selected, and one seedling should be left in each hole and the rest should be pulled out. When the seedling height is 30 cm, combine weeding to cultivate the soil at the root to prevent lodging when flowering.
2. Irrigation and drainage and fertilization: keep the soil moist before and after going out. Drainage in time in rainy season, less fertilization in seedling stage, otherwise it will cause excessive growth, affect ventilation and light transmission, and cause diseases and pests. In the bud stage, we should cooperate with watering and apply human excrement and urine, with an area of 0/500 kg ~ 2,000 kg per mu, or 5 kg of sulfur.
3. Topping: When the seedling height is 15cm- 18cm, the top bud is knocked out, which promotes multi-branching and increases the number of flower buds.
4. Pest control: (1) Anthracnose: May-May is serious, damaging stems, branches and leaves. Prevention and control methods: select improved varieties, choose high dry land planting and strengthen management. At the initial stage of the disease, 1: 100 bordeaux solution or 500 times solution of 65% wettable bactericide 1 time every 7- 10 days for 2-3 times in a row.
(2) Rust: mostly occurs in leaves. After harvesting in autumn, the diseased branches and leaves will be burned centrally. Spray 50% dinitrate powder 7 7- 10/day 1 time with 2000 times or 200 times solution of diclofenac sodium for 2-3 times in a row.
(3) Spraying 40% dimethoate EC 1500 times when aphids occur.
(4) harvesting and processing
It is best to harvest the flowers in July and August when they change from yellow to orange but not red. Picking should be done in the early morning after the dew is slightly dry. Not suitable for picking in hot sun and rainy days. The harvested safflower should not be exposed to the sun, otherwise the red color will fade and affect the quality. When it is dry, it should be spread in a ventilated and cool place and dried. The seeds of safflower are ripe 10- 15 days after picking, which is an excellent edible oil. It should be harvested in time and dried in the sun for later use.