Effects of Mycorrhiza Inoculation and Vermicompost Levels on some Nutrient Concentrations and Corm Criteria of Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) under Kerman Climatic Conditions

To evaluate the micro and macro elements of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) under the influence of various levels of inoculation with Mycorrhiza and Vermicompost in a factorial arrangement in a randomized complete block design with three replications was conducted in research field of Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman. The investigated factors included Vermicompost at 4 levels of 0, 8, 16 and 24 tons per hectare and four levels of Mycorrhizal fertilizer 0, 7.5, 10 and 15 gram inoculation were put in each hole consisting two corms with equal and moderate weight. In this experiment, traits including: phosphorus, nitrogen, potassium, manganese, iron, copper, number of corms in per plant, length of corms, diameter corm's final scales, corm's diameter, fresh weight of corm, dry weight of corm and colonization percentage of roots. The results showed a significant effect of Vermicompost on corm's length, corm's diameter, diameter corm's final scales, fresh weight of corms, phosphorus, nitrogen and colonization percentage of roots. The effect of Mycorrhiza on the phosphorus, nitrogen, the number of corms in the plant, the length of the corm, colonization percentage of roots, diameter corm's final scales and the corm's diameter. Also, the interaction between Vermicompost and Mycorrhiza fertilizer was significant on the traits of corm's diameter. Therefore, it seems that the application of Mycorrhiza inoculation with Vermicompost fertilizer could enhance some quantitative and qualitative traits of saffron.