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

NARI-NH-1

A non-spiny safflower hybrid from NARI Phaltan combining hybrid yield with the spineless trait; fresh seed must be bought each year.

SeasonRabi
Maturity periodAbout 125–135 days
Expected yieldAround 15–20 q/ha under good management — hybrid vigour with the spineless trait
Suitable soilDeep black soils under good management

Quick facts

Crop
Safflower (Kusum)
Type
Non-spiny safflower hybrid
Season
Rabi
Maturity period
About 125–135 days
Seed rate
Sole crop 10–12 kg/ha of hybrid seed in 45 cm rows
Expected yield
Around 15–20 q/ha under good management — hybrid vigour with the spineless trait
Suitable soil
Deep black soils under good management
Release
A non-spiny safflower hybrid released by NARI Phaltan

About this variety

NARI-NH-1 is a non-spiny safflower hybrid from the Nimbkar Agricultural Research Institute, Phaltan. It brings together hybrid vigour — a higher seed yield under good management — with the spineless trait that makes weeding, spraying and harvest far easier and safer. As a hybrid, seed must be bought fresh each season.

Key characteristics

    Plant typeNon-spiny safflower hybrid
    MaturityAbout 125–135 days
    Yield potentialAround 15–20 q/ha under good management — hybrid vigour with the spineless trait
    Disease resistanceModerate
    SoilDeep black soils under good management
    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 of hybrid seed in 45 cm rows
  • Spacing45 cm rows; thin to about 20 cm within the row
  • Sowing methodDrill behind the plough into moist black soil, 4–6 cm deep
  • IrrigationOne or two protective irrigations (rosette-to-branching and flowering) express the hybrid potential best; still gives an advantage rainfed
  • FertilizerAbout 40:40:0 kg N:P2O5:K2O/ha, half basal and half at the rosette stage under irrigation; keep the rainfed dose lower
  • HarvestingHarvest at 125–135 days when straw-dry; the non-spiny plant is safe and quick to cut and thresh

Soil & climate

Soil

Suitable soil
Deep black soils with a full moisture profile; responds strongly to good management
pH
6.5–8.0

Climate

Climate
A rabi crop that rewards good management and protective irrigation; being non-spiny, thorough weeding and spraying are easy, which helps aphid control

Yield & maturity

Maturity period

About 125–135 days

Expected yield

Around 15–20 q/ha under good management — hybrid vigour with the spineless trait

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

Pest & disease considerations

Management notes

  • Buy fresh certified hybrid seed every year — do not save seed
  • Grow it where good management and, ideally, one or two irrigations are possible
  • Sow early and deep; use the spineless canopy to spray thoroughly for aphid

Advantages & considerations

Why farmers may choose it

  • Hybrid yield with the non-spiny trait — high yield and an easy, safe harvest together
  • Thorough weeding and spraying are simple, which improves aphid control

Things to consider

  • Hybrid seed must be bought fresh each year
  • The yield advantage needs good management and ideally irrigation; on a low-input rainfed crop a non-spiny OP variety (NARI-6/57) may be enough

Suitable regions

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

  • Maharashtra
  • Karnataka

Frequently asked questions

What does NARI-NH-1 offer over a non-spiny variety like NARI-57?

NARI-NH-1 is a hybrid, so it adds hybrid vigour — a higher seed yield under good management and, ideally, one or two protective irrigations — on top of the same spineless trait that makes NARI-57 easy to weed, spray and harvest. The trade-off is that hybrid seed must be bought fresh every year, whereas NARI-57 seed can be carried over (with a germination check).

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