Determining an appropriate integrated nutrition system for saffron (Crocus sativus L.) cultivation as affected by maternal corm weight

The aim of this study was to determine the response of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) to nutrient resources and maternal corm weights.

The experiment was conducted as a split-plot based on a randomized complete block design with three replications. The main plots included four integrated nutrition programs (NP0: control (without fertilization); NP1: cow manure, amino acids, humic acid; NP2: slaughterhouse waste, mono-potassium phosphate, humic acid, mix (macro-micro) fertilizer; and NP3: poultry manure, ammonium nitrate, humic acid, amino acid, hormone biofertilizer, NP fertilizer, micronutrients) and the subplots included three maternal corm weights (CW1: 4-8, CW2: 8-12, and CW3: 12-16 g).

The difference between the experimental treatments in terms of the effect on the studied traits of saffron was more significant in the second year than in the first year of the experiment. The NP3 treatment resulted in the highest values of the flower number (85.6), fresh and dry flower yield (28.21 and 5.48 g m-2, respectively), and fresh and dry stigma yield (3.35 and 0.67 g m-2, respectively). Also, planting the heaviest corms led to the highest values of the mentioned traits (79.9, 24.57, 4.85, 2.90, and 0.58 g m-2, respectively). The highest value of corm number (312.1), corm diameter (4.27 cm), corm weight (6.86 g), and corm yield (1562.4 g m-2) belonged to the NP3 treatment. The CW3 treatment obtained the highest values of the mentioned traits (322.7, 3.72 cm, 6.87 g, and 1476.5 g m-2, respectively). Furthermore, the highest dry stigma water productivity (1.942 g m-3) and corm water productivity (4.45 kg m-3) were found under the NP3 treatment. Also, the highest value of the mentioned traits (1.681 g m-3 and 4.18 kg m-3, respectively) was recorded in the CW3 treatment.

Research limitations: 

No limitations were identified.

Originality/Value:

 The results of this research clearly show the profound importance of the characteristics of the maternal corms and the integrated nutrition in changes in saffron yield. Overall, we conclude that the NP3CW3 treatment is the best treatment for obtaining the highest values of saffron flower and corm indices as well as the stigma and corm water productivity.