Enhancing Safflower Forage Production in Arid Climates: A Holistic Approach

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) is a versatile oilseed crop that thrives in arid and semi-arid lands. It exhibits remarkable tolerance to drought, salinity, and extreme temperatures (ranging from -14°C to 43°C). Safflower, a multipurpose crop cultivated in arid and semi-arid lands worldwide, remains underutilized despite its adaptability to challenging conditions such as drought, salinity, and extreme temperatures. Safflower, offers several nutritional benefits. Rich in monounsaturated fatty acids, high oleic safflower oil can help lower LDL cholesterol. Safflower yellow, a flavonoid found in safflower, has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Different safflower genotypes significantly impact yield components, seed yield, and seed oil content. Selecting suitable genotypes is crucial for optimizing production. Safflower can be successfully grown in arid and semi-arid conditions. Planting can coincide with the rainy season for dryland farming. Safflower green plants can be harvested for high-quality silage, providing valuable winter feed for livestock. Feeding safflower to female sheep has been shown to significantly improve fertility rates. The fine edibility of safflower biomass contributes to its suitability as livestock feed. Safflower meal contains 24% to 36% protein, depending on the variety. Supplementation of sheep diets with high-linoleic safflower oil enhances unsaturated fatty acids in lean meat tissue without compromising growth performance. Safflower inclusion in dairy cow diets enhances nutrient utilization for milk production and improves milk quality.

Enhancing Safflower Forage Production in Arid Climates: A Holistic Approach Keywords:

Genotype Influence , Rain Season Planting , Multipurpose Crop , beef