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Safflower (Kusum)RabiSpiny safflower varietyUpdated 28 August 2026

Manjira

A spiny variety (JSF-1) long grown in the Telangana and northern Andhra Pradesh safflower belt, adapted to the local rainfed black soils with dependable yield.

SeasonRabi
Maturity periodAbout 120–130 days
Expected yieldAround 8–12 q/ha rainfed; about 30% oil
Suitable soilBlack soils of the Telangana / northern AP belt

Quick facts

Crop
Safflower (Kusum)
Type
Spiny safflower variety
Season
Rabi
Maturity period
About 120–130 days
Seed rate
Sole crop 10–12 kg/ha in 45 cm rows; border / intercrop about 5–6 kg/ha
Expected yield
Around 8–12 q/ha rainfed; about 30% oil
Suitable soil
Black soils of the Telangana / northern AP belt
Release
A spiny safflower variety (JSF-1) for the Telangana / northern AP rainfed tracts

About this variety

Manjira (JSF-1) is a spiny safflower variety long grown across the safflower belt of Telangana and northern Andhra Pradesh. It is well adapted to the local rainfed black soils, gives a dependable seed yield of about 8–12 q/ha with around 30% oil, and is familiar to growers and oil mills in that region.

Key characteristics

    Plant typeSpiny safflower variety
    MaturityAbout 120–130 days
    Yield potentialAround 8–12 q/ha rainfed; about 30% oil
    Disease resistanceModerate
    SoilBlack soils of the Telangana / northern AP belt
    SeasonRabi

Sowing & cultivation

  • Sowing timeLate September to October, drilled deep into the receding-monsoon moisture
  • Seed rateSole crop 10–12 kg/ha in 45 cm rows; border / intercrop about 5–6 kg/ha
  • Spacing45 cm rows; thin to about 20 cm within the row
  • Sowing methodDrill behind the plough into moist black soil, 4–6 cm deep
  • IrrigationRainfed on stored moisture; one irrigation at rosette-to-branching where water is available
  • FertilizerRainfed about 25:25:0 kg N:P2O5:K2O/ha below the seed; 40–60 kg N/ha split under irrigation
  • HarvestingHarvest at 120–130 days when straw-dry; a spiny crop, so cut in the cool early morning with protective clothing

Soil & climate

Soil

Suitable soil
Black soils of the Telangana / northern AP belt
pH
6.5–8.0

Climate

Climate
A rainfed rabi crop of the Telangana belt; unseasonal rain or a humid flowering brings Alternaria and heavy aphid

Yield & maturity

Maturity period

About 120–130 days

Expected yield

Around 8–12 q/ha rainfed; about 30% oil

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

Pest & disease considerations

Management notes

  • Sow on time and deep into moisture
  • Scout and spray aphid at the first bud colonies
  • Rotate 3–4 years away from safflower; treat seed against Alternaria

Advantages & considerations

Why farmers may choose it

  • Well adapted to the Telangana / northern AP rainfed black soils
  • Dependable yield with about 30% oil; familiar to the local trade

Things to consider

  • Spiny — a non-spiny variety avoids most of the weeding and harvest difficulty
  • No special wilt or aphid tolerance; on a problem field, choose a tolerant variety

Suitable regions

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

  • Telangana
  • Andhra Pradesh
  • Karnataka

Frequently asked questions

Which region is Manjira safflower grown in?

Manjira (JSF-1) is grown across the safflower belt of Telangana and northern Andhra Pradesh, on the local rainfed black soils. It is a spiny variety with a dependable yield and about 30% oil, well known to growers and oil mills in that region.

Sourced from: Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University, ICAR-Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research (IIOR), Hyderabad. editorial policy.