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Safflower (Kusum)RabiNon-spiny safflower varietyUpdated 28 August 2026

NARI-57

A non-spiny NARI variety with improved seed yield and oil over NARI-6, bred for the western and central Indian rabi tracts.

SeasonRabi
Maturity periodAbout 125–135 days
Expected yieldAround 10–14 q/ha rainfed, higher under irrigation; improved seed and oil over NARI-6
Suitable soilDeep and medium-black soils

Quick facts

Crop
Safflower (Kusum)
Type
Non-spiny safflower variety
Season
Rabi
Maturity period
About 125–135 days
Seed rate
Sole crop 10–12 kg/ha in 45 cm rows; border / intercrop about 5–6 kg/ha
Expected yield
Around 10–14 q/ha rainfed, higher under irrigation; improved seed and oil over NARI-6
Suitable soil
Deep and medium-black soils
Release
Released by NARI Phaltan as an improved non-spiny variety over NARI-6

About this variety

NARI-57 is a non-spiny safflower variety from the Nimbkar Agricultural Research Institute, developed as an improvement on NARI-6 with higher seed yield and oil content. It keeps the spineless trait that makes the crop far easier to weed, spray and harvest, and is grown across the western and central Indian rabi safflower tracts under rainfed and irrigated management.

Key characteristics

    Plant typeNon-spiny safflower variety
    MaturityAbout 125–135 days
    Yield potentialAround 10–14 q/ha rainfed, higher under irrigation; improved seed and oil over NARI-6
    Disease resistanceModerate
    SoilDeep and medium-black soils
    SeasonRabi

Sowing & cultivation

  • Sowing timeLate September to end of October, drilled deep into moisture; sow early because of the longer duration
  • 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; 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 below the seed; 40–60 kg N/ha split under irrigation
  • HarvestingHarvest at 125–135 days when straw-dry and the seed hard and white; the non-spiny plant is safe and quick to cut and thresh

Soil & climate

Soil

Suitable soil
Deep and medium-black soils
pH
6.0–8.0

Climate

Climate
A rainfed / irrigated rabi crop; the longer duration means an early, deep sowing matters more here than for a short-duration variety

Yield & maturity

Maturity period

About 125–135 days

Expected yield

Around 10–14 q/ha rainfed, higher under irrigation; improved seed and oil over NARI-6

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

Pest & disease considerations

Management notes

  • Sow early and deep because of the longer duration
  • Use the spineless canopy to spray thoroughly for aphid at the first bud colonies
  • Rotate 3–4 years away from safflower

Advantages & considerations

Why farmers may choose it

  • Non-spiny, with higher seed yield and oil than NARI-6
  • Easier and safer weeding, spraying and harvest than a spiny variety

Things to consider

  • Longer duration — needs an early, deep sowing into a full moisture profile
  • Like other non-spiny types, more exposed to bird and grazing damage where that pressure is high

Suitable regions

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

  • Maharashtra
  • Karnataka
  • Telangana

Frequently asked questions

How is NARI-57 different from NARI-6?

Both are non-spiny safflower varieties from NARI Phaltan. NARI-57 was developed as an improvement on NARI-6, with higher seed yield and a higher oil content, at a slightly longer duration. Where a spineless crop is wanted and the field allows an early sowing, NARI-57 is generally the stronger choice.

Sourced from: Nimbkar Agricultural Research Institute (NARI), Phaltan, ICAR-Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research (IIOR), Hyderabad. editorial policy.