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Safflower
Broadleaf
Image Source: 1
Image Source: 2
Estimated Cost
$0.85
($/lb)
Planting Window
Spring seeded
Best for
Improving infiltration, Building soil carbon, and Drought resilience
Alternate Species
Okra, Pearl Millet, Phacelia
1. Tom Lawler 2021, Indigo Agriculture.
2. Tom Lawler 2021, Indigo Agriculture.
Seeding Detail
Safflower
18.0
35.0
28.0
Additional Information
Why We Recommend This
Safflower is the most drought hardy broadleaf around. It has a long taproot (8-10 feet in ideal conditions), excels at breaking hard pans, and encourages air and nutrient cycling in the soil. Safflower is recommended in cereal crop rotations to address root disease issues. It flowers mid-summer providing a refuge for pollinator species and beneficials. Young safflower is palatable and nutritious for forage and spineless varieties (ie: baldy safflower) can be used for grazing throughout the season.
Things to Watch Out For
Safflower's large taproot sucks up subsoil moisture. It becomes susceptible to root rot in waterlogged soils and foliar disease in humid/wet climates. Safflower can be a host for white mold and should not be included with sunflowers, mustards, canolas, or field peas. It can provide excellent early forage but it needs to be harvested before the leaves become prickly with maturity (it is a relative of thistle). If you plan on grazing, it is best to use a spineless variety (ie: baldy).
Neither Indigo nor any of its affiliates makes any representations, warranties or guarantees as to any specific results or outcomes, including, without limitation, with respect to soil health outcomes or any minimum amount of greenhouse gasses sequestered or number of carbon credits generated. Participation in Carbon by Indigo is subject to the terms, conditions and limitations of the program contained in the applicable enrollment agreement. Any payments under Carbon by Indigo are subject to multi-year vesting and are contingent on continued long-term maintenance of regenerative agricultural practices and soil carbon levels. All Carbon Credits generated are subject to buffer pool holdbacks required by third-party crediting; participants will not receive payments for such holdback. Not available in all areas.
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