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Safflower (Kusum)RabiSpiny safflower varietyUpdated 28 August 2026

Bhima

A spiny variety released for the Maharashtra rainfed tracts, medium-to-long duration, with good rainfed yield and wide adaptation.

SeasonRabi
Maturity periodAbout 125тАУ135 days
Expected yieldAround 9тАУ13 q/ha rainfed with wide adaptation across Maharashtra
Suitable soilDeep black soils of Marathwada and western Maharashtra

Quick facts

Crop
Safflower (Kusum)
Type
Spiny safflower variety
Season
Rabi
Maturity period
About 125тАУ135 days
Seed rate
Sole crop 10тАУ12 kg/ha in 45 cm rows; border / intercrop about 5тАУ6 kg/ha
Expected yield
Around 9тАУ13 q/ha rainfed with wide adaptation across Maharashtra
Suitable soil
Deep black soils of Marathwada and western Maharashtra
Release
Released for the Maharashtra rainfed safflower tracts

About this variety

Bhima is a spiny safflower variety released for the rainfed black-soil tracts of Maharashtra. It is medium-to-long in duration, gives a dependable rainfed seed yield, and is widely adapted across Marathwada and western Maharashtra, which is why it has stayed a common choice alongside the newer wilt-tolerant varieties.

Key characteristics

    Plant typeSpiny safflower variety
    MaturityAbout 125тАУ135 days
    Yield potentialAround 9тАУ13 q/ha rainfed with wide adaptation across Maharashtra
    Disease resistanceModerate
    SoilDeep black soils of Marathwada and western Maharashtra
    SeasonRabi

Sowing & cultivation

  • Sowing timeLate September to end of October, drilled deep into the receding-monsoon moisture; a longer-duration type, so avoid a very late sowing
  • Seed rateSole crop 10тАУ12 kg/ha in 45 cm rows; border / intercrop about 5тАУ6 kg/ha
  • Spacing45 cm rows; thin to about 20 cm within the row
  • Sowing methodDrill behind the plough into moist black soil, 4тАУ6 cm deep
  • IrrigationRainfed; one irrigation at rosette-to-branching and a second at flowering where water is available
  • FertilizerRainfed about 25:25:0 kg N:P2O5:K2O/ha drilled below the seed; 40тАУ60 kg N/ha split under irrigation
  • HarvestingHarvest at 125тАУ135 days when the crop is straw-dry and the seed hard and white; cut in the cool early morning with protective clothing

Soil & climate

Soil

Suitable soil
Deep black (Vertisol) soils with a full stored-moisture profile
pH
6.5тАУ8.0

Climate

Climate
A rainfed rabi crop; the longer duration means it must be sown early enough to finish seed-fill before the black-soil profile runs dry

Yield & maturity

Maturity period

About 125тАУ135 days

Expected yield

Around 9тАУ13 q/ha rainfed with wide adaptation across Maharashtra

Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.

Pest & disease considerations

Management notes

  • Sow early because of the longer duration тАФ a late Bhima crop meets terminal drought
  • Scout and spray aphid at the first bud colonies
  • Keep to a 3тАУ4 year rotation away from safflower

Advantages & considerations

Why farmers may choose it

  • Wide adaptation and a dependable rainfed yield across Maharashtra
  • A well-known, well-tested option for the Marathwada and western Maharashtra black soils

Things to consider

  • Spiny тАФ a non-spiny variety avoids most of the weeding and harvest difficulty
  • Longer duration тАФ not a good fit for a short residual-moisture window or a late sowing

Suitable regions

States this variety is recommended for тАФ check locally, since a state can have more than one recommended zone.

  • Maharashtra
  • Karnataka

Frequently asked questions

Is Bhima suited to a late sowing?

Not really. Bhima is a medium-to-long-duration variety, so a late sowing pushes seed-fill into the period when the black-soil moisture profile has run dry, cutting yield and oil sharply. For a late sowing, an earlier-maturing variety is a better choice.

Sourced from: ICAR-Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research (IIOR), Hyderabad, Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani. editorial policy.