Effect of Different Irrigation Systems and Fertilizer Types on Saffron Corm Production

In order to investigate the effect of irrigation method and fertilizer type on saffron corm production, a split-plot experiment was carried out in the research field of Islamic Azad University, Birjand Branch, Birjand, Iran during 2016-2018 years based on a randomized complete block design with three replications. Three irrigation methods (flooding, surface drip, subsurface drip) were as the main plots. Also, six fertilizer levels (1-cattle manure at 25 t/ha, 2-chemical fertilizer including 150, 100, and 150 kg/ha urea, triple superphosphate and potassium sulfate, respectively, 3-biological fertilizer at 200, 300 and 300 g/ha including nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, respectively, 4-the combination of 50% cattle manure and 50% chemical fertilizer, 5-the combination of 50% biological fertilizer and 50% chemical fertilizer and 6-non-fertilizer application) were the subplots. The results showed that the simple and interaction effects of irrigation method and fertilizer type on the corms number and yield was significant. In general, the results indicated superiority of treatment subsurface drip irrigation and combination of 50% cattle manure with 50% chemical fertilizer. It seems that reducing the use of chemical fertilizers and replacing them with livestock manure can lead to sustainable agriculture and reduce environmental pollution. On the other hand, using of subsurface drip irrigation under the conditions of increasing drought stress in the region will be an effective step in increasing saffron yield.