The experiment entitled effect of in-situ leguminous green manures and N P levels on growth and seed yield of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) under rain fed condition was conducted during kharif and rabi seasons of 2011-12 at Agricultural Research Station, Annigeri (Northern Dry Zone of Karnataka-Zone-3). The experiment consisted of four main plots (GM1: sunnhemp, GM 2: greengram, GM3: cowpea and GM4: fallow) and four sub-plots (F1: 0:0 N:P2O5 kg/ha, F2: 20:20 N:P2O5 kg/ha, F3: 30:30 N:P2O5 kg/ha and F4: 40:40 N:P2O5 kg/ha) laid out in split plot design. Among the green manures sunnhemp and cowpea green manuring was recorded significantly higher safflower seed yield (12.53 and 13.41 q ha-1), net returns (` 20917 and ` 23422) and higher B: C ratio (2.78 and 3.03), respectively. Higher dose of N P level (40:40 N:P2O5 kg/ha) recorded significantly higher seed yield (14.25 q ha-1) and B: C ratio (3.17) than lower N P levels. Among the interaction treatments, significantly higher seed yield (14.89 and 16.83 q ha-1), gross returns (` 38714 and ` 43767 ha-1), net returns (` 26534 and ` 31787 ha-1) and B:C ratio (3.18 and 3.65), respectively was obtained in sunnhemp and cowpea green manured plots with higher dose of N P level (40:40 N:P2O5 kg/ha) than to fallow-safflower system.