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Technical Kisanखेती, तकनीक के साथ
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Safflower (Kusum)RabiSpiny safflower varietyUpdated 28 August 2026

Sharda

A spiny variety (JSI-7) from the Jabalpur programme for the Madhya Pradesh and central-Indian rabi safflower tracts, with a dependable rainfed yield.

SeasonRabi
Maturity periodAbout 125–135 days
Expected yieldAround 9–13 q/ha rainfed in the central-Indian rabi tracts
Suitable soilBlack soils of the central-Indian rabi belt

Quick facts

Crop
Safflower (Kusum)
Type
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 9–13 q/ha rainfed in the central-Indian rabi tracts
Suitable soil
Black soils of the central-Indian rabi belt
Release
A spiny safflower variety (JSI-7) from JNKVV Jabalpur for the central-Indian rabi tracts

About this variety

Sharda (JSI-7) is a spiny safflower variety from the Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya (Jabalpur) programme, grown in the Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and central-Indian rabi safflower tracts. It gives a dependable rainfed seed yield on the black soils of that belt and is a familiar choice to growers there.

Key characteristics

    Plant typeSpiny safflower variety
    MaturityAbout 125–135 days
    Yield potentialAround 9–13 q/ha rainfed in the central-Indian rabi tracts
    Disease resistanceModerate
    SoilBlack soils of the central-Indian rabi belt
    SeasonRabi

Sowing & cultivation

  • Sowing timeLate September to end of 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; one irrigation at rosette-to-branching gives the biggest response
  • 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; a spiny crop, so cut in the cool early morning with gloves and long sleeves

Soil & climate

Soil

Suitable soil
Black soils of the central-Indian rabi belt
pH
6.5–8.0

Climate

Climate
A rainfed rabi crop of central India; the longer duration means an early, deep sowing matters, and a wet flowering brings Alternaria and aphid

Yield & maturity

Maturity period

About 125–135 days

Expected yield

Around 9–13 q/ha rainfed in the central-Indian rabi tracts

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
  • 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

  • A dependable rainfed variety for the Madhya Pradesh and central-Indian rabi tracts
  • Familiar to growers and the local trade in that belt

Things to consider

  • Spiny — a non-spiny variety avoids most of the weeding and harvest difficulty
  • Longer duration — needs an early, deep sowing

Suitable regions

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

  • Madhya Pradesh
  • Maharashtra
  • Chhattisgarh

Frequently asked questions

Where is Sharda safflower grown?

Sharda (JSI-7) is a spiny safflower variety from the JNKVV Jabalpur programme, grown in the rabi safflower tracts of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and central India on the black soils of that belt. It gives a dependable rainfed yield and is well known to growers there.

Sourced from: Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya (JNKVV), Jabalpur, ICAR-Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research (IIOR), Hyderabad. editorial policy.