Agriculture
Mahmoud Gholami; Mohammad Kafi; Hamid Reza Khazaei
Abstract
Saffron is the main medicinal plant of Iran. In order to study the relations of sink and source between saffron leaves and corms, a split plot experiment was conducted on the basis of complete randomized block design with three replications in a field in the Ashkezar city of Yazd province during 2013-2014. ...
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Saffron is the main medicinal plant of Iran. In order to study the relations of sink and source between saffron leaves and corms, a split plot experiment was conducted on the basis of complete randomized block design with three replications in a field in the Ashkezar city of Yazd province during 2013-2014. The main plots and sub plots were irrigated with three levels (100%, 75% and 50% of ETc) and the fertilization management methods including control (without any fertilizer or manure), applying 10 t/ha cow manure, 10 t/ha vermicompost by spreading, 10 t/ha vermicompost buried under planting corm rows, 5 t/ha vermicompost buried under planting corm rows, or spraying 10 l/ha Humaster Saffron fertilizer for 1 or 2 times after flowering. The Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated between leaf length in every measuring stage and the weight of biggest corm at the end of the first year (as daughter corm). The results showed that correlation coefficients were decreased until 40 days after emergence and then increased. The highest correlation coefficient reached around 80 days after emergence and followed until the end of the growth period. The best corm yield was reached for 10 t/ha vermicompost buried under planting corm rows. Also under different irrigation regimes, the best results were obtained through full irrigation treatment.
Agriculture
Abbas Jalali; Faezeh Zaefarian; Benjamin Torabi; Rahmat Abbasi
Abstract
Saffron can be cultivated in many regions of the world with different climates. But the best climate for growing saffron is the Mediterranean climate with its warm and dry summers. The present study was conducted to evaluate some indicators of saffron growth in 2019-2020 in four region with different ...
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Saffron can be cultivated in many regions of the world with different climates. But the best climate for growing saffron is the Mediterranean climate with its warm and dry summers. The present study was conducted to evaluate some indicators of saffron growth in 2019-2020 in four region with different altitudes above sea level in Sari, Iran. These regions include Sari plain (level with sea level), Sarkat (350 meters above sea level), Reskat (900 meters above sea level) and Margav (1350 meters above sea level). These experiments were performed in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The treatment was includes corm size in three weight groups: small (4±2 g), medium (10±2 g) and large (15±2 g) and Measured traits include leaf area index, cumulative dry matter, growth rate, relative growth rate and saffron yield. The results showed that the trend of saffron leaf area development in all studied regions has a non-linear trend and follows a logistic-peak function. Based on the results, a significant difference was observed between the leaf area development trend among different sizes of mother corm in all regions and the trend of leaf area index changes during the growing season was higher for larger corms than for smaller corms. The trend of changes in dry matter accumulation also had a sigmoidal trend in all experiment region. Total dry matter changes were higher for larger corms. Although the trend of changes in crop growth rate in higher altitude region was lower; But the rate of growth rate fluctuation or in other words the difference between the minimum and maximum growth rate during the season in the two higher regions was less than the lower regions. The growth trend of saffron in four regions showed that it grows during the season in region with higher altitudes above sea level and following more vegetative growth and more dry matter allocation to the storage organ, larger corm is produced and the potential to increase the yield of dried saffron flowers and stigmas will increase next year.
Economics and Marketing
Fatemeh Yaghobi; Majid Jami Al-Ahmadi; Mohammad Reza Bakhshi; Mohammad Hassan Sayyari
Abstract
The main objective of this research was to determine indicators of technical and economic water use efficiency in the cultivation of saffron and wheat in the Qaenat region located in the South Khorasan province in Iran), where 50 wheat farms and 48 saffron farms were investigated during 2011 and 2012. ...
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The main objective of this research was to determine indicators of technical and economic water use efficiency in the cultivation of saffron and wheat in the Qaenat region located in the South Khorasan province in Iran), where 50 wheat farms and 48 saffron farms were investigated during 2011 and 2012. For this purpose, the necessary information about farmer’s age and education, crop yield, the area under wheat and saffron cultivation, type of irrigation source, water flow rate and the number and duration of irrigation were collected by using a questionnaire. The results showed that the calculated indicator of water use efficiency was 0.84 and 0.34 kg.m-3 for wheat total biomass and grain and 0.36 and 0.002 kg.m-3 for saffron total biomass and stigma, respectively. Economic water use efficiency was estimated to be 23706.43 and 1836.89 Rials per cubic meter of water use in saffron and wheat production systems, respectively. There was a significant difference between the different ages of saffron farms for economic water use efficiency and the maximum value of this indicator was related to five-year old farms. Education of the farmers and the area under cultivation were identified as factors influencing the studied measures for wheat. Also, the results showed that there is a significant negative correlation between economic water use efficiency and soil salinity.
Agriculture
Hamidreza sharifi; zohreh nabipour; Hamid Reza Tavakkoli Kakhki
Abstract
In order to investigate the effect of compensatory behavior of planting density, corm weight and planting depth on vegetative characteristics and yield of saffron stigma (Crocus. Sativus L.), a factorial split plot experiment with a randomized complete block design with three replications in the research ...
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In order to investigate the effect of compensatory behavior of planting density, corm weight and planting depth on vegetative characteristics and yield of saffron stigma (Crocus. Sativus L.), a factorial split plot experiment with a randomized complete block design with three replications in the research center and Agricultural education and natural resources of Khorasan Razavi (Gonabad Research Station) was conducted in the cropping years 2018-2020. In this study, planting density treatment (in four levels of 60, 90, 120 and 150 corms per square meter) in the main plot and factorial planting depth (in two levels of 15±2 and 25±2 cm from the soil surface) and corm weight (in two Levels 4± 1 and 8 ± 1 gr) were located in the subplot. The results showed that increasing the density from 60 to 150 corms per square meter caused a significant increase in flower number, flower fresh weight and stigma dry weight, number of plants, number of leaves per plant, average length of a leaf and total leaf length per square meter. Accordingly, increasing the weight of coriander from 4 to 8 gr significantly increases flower number, flower fresh weight, stigma dry weight, number of plants, number of leaves per plant, average length of a leaf, total leaf length per square meter and total Leaf length per plant in the first and second years and reduced flower number, flower fresh weight and stigma dry weight in the third year. The results also showed that increasing the planting depth from 15 to 25 cm caused a significant decrease in all studied traits of saffron. The effect of dual and triple interactions on the studied traits was mainly significant. Overall, the results showed that the use of larger mother corms has a relative priority only in the early years and the importance of its effect decreases with increasing farm age. Based on this, it seems that it is possible to have a different strateg and with a combination of less depth and especially more density to compensate for the effect of corm weight and achieved more overall performance.
Agriculture
Faezeh Zaefarian; Abbas Jalali; Hamed Kaveh; Fatemh Delavarnia
Abstract
The present research was conducted in order to achieve the best method of planting and obtaining the maximum yield of flowers and stigmas of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) in two stages in Sari Plain. The first stage was carried out in the research farm of Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources ...
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The present research was conducted in order to achieve the best method of planting and obtaining the maximum yield of flowers and stigmas of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) in two stages in Sari Plain. The first stage was carried out in the research farm of Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University during 2021-2022 as split plots on randomized complete blocks design with three replications, in which the experimental treatments included drainage depth (15, 30, and 45 cm) in the main plots and three drainage distances (50, 100 and 150 cm) in the subplots. In the second stage, the produced corms were stored for three months in the incubation environment, and then, the corms were transferred to two different environments of aeroponic and field to evaluate saffron's flower and stigma performance. The measured traits included the number of produced flowers, average flower weight, dry stigma weight in both field and aeroponic, and the amount of safranal, picrocrocin, and crocin and in aeroponic conditions. The evaluation of reproductive traits of saffron under aeroponic showed that with increasing the depth of the drain and decreasing the distance of the drain, traits such as the number of flowers, flower weight, and stigma dry weight increased; when the maximum value of these traits, equivalent to 4744 flowers.m-2, 1423 g.m-2, and 10.7 g.m-2 were observed at 30 cm drainage depth and 100 cm drainage distance, which did not have a significant difference with 45 cm drainage depth treatment and 100 cm drainage distance. In addition, the results showed that the amount of picrocrocin decreased with increasing the depth of the drain and the distance of the drain. In addition, no significant difference was observed between different treatments for crocin content. Comparing the reproductive traits of plants under two cultivation conditions, namely air, and field, revealed a reduction of 21%, 20%, and 12% in the number of flowers, fresh flower weight, and dry weight of stigma, respectively, within the field conditions. In summary, the findings suggest that, for optimal saffron production in coastal areas, the propagation of corms in the field at depths of 30 cm and 100 cm with proper drainage, followed by flowering of the propagated corms through aeroponic cultivation, could be a viable and economically sound approach for one-year saffron cultivation in the Sari plain region.
Agriculture
Alireza Koocheki; Mehdi Jamshid Eyni; Seyyed Mohammad Seyyedi
Abstract
Mother corm size and nutrient management are the most important factors in relation to nitrogen uptake of saffron (Crocus sativus L.). In order to investigate the effects of mother corms size and type of fertilizer on uptake and use efficiency of nitrogen in Saffron, a field experiment was conducted ...
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Mother corm size and nutrient management are the most important factors in relation to nitrogen uptake of saffron (Crocus sativus L.). In order to investigate the effects of mother corms size and type of fertilizer on uptake and use efficiency of nitrogen in Saffron, a field experiment was conducted as factorial layout based on a randomized complete block design with three replications at Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran, during the years 2013 and 2014. The mother corm size (4 g and lower (small), 4.1–8 g (medium), 8.1-12 g (relatively large) and over 12 g (large)) and fertilizer sources (cow manure 25 t ha-1, chemical fertilizer (N+P) and control) were the first and second experimental factors, respectively. In both years, the larger mother corms (8.1-12 g and more) significantly resulted in greater nitrogen content (g m-2) of replacement corms and whole plant of saffron. In addition, uptake and use efficiency of nitrogen were significantly increased with increasing mother corms size. In the first and the second years, nitrogen use efficiency in manure treatment was significantly higher than that of chemical fertilizer (by 21 and 61%, respectively).
Biotechnology and genetics
Majid Shokrpour; Zeinab Abedi; Siamak Kalantari; Seyed Alireza Salami
Abstract
Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is one of the most valuable medicinal and spice herbs in the world. In spite of the ancient cultivation history in Iran, there are limited breeding studies on the plant due to its vegetative reproduction. In order to evaluation genetic diversity of Iranian saffron germplasm, ...
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Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is one of the most valuable medicinal and spice herbs in the world. In spite of the ancient cultivation history in Iran, there are limited breeding studies on the plant due to its vegetative reproduction. In order to evaluation genetic diversity of Iranian saffron germplasm, sixty-five different saffron accessions from the main cultivation areas in Khorasan including Torbat heidarieh, Gonabad, Mahvelat, Ghaenat and Ferdows were collected and were studied by molecular markers. The used RAPD and ISSR primers produced 43 and 122 polymorphic markers loci, respectively, and totally 165 markers with average of 7.5 markers by each primer, totally. Diversity index ranged from 0.36 to 0.7 with average of 0.23. Also, marker index with the average of 0.16 varied in the range of 0.2 to 0.7. The accessions from Ghaenat and Mahvelat had the maximum (83.03%) and the minimum (52.73%) polymorphism, respectively. Grouping the studied saffron accessions using cluster analysis displayed four distinct groups which had little correspondence to their collection areas, while clustering for the main cultivation areas had relatively good correspondence to their geographical distances. So, it is expected to have nearly approaching improvements of qualitative and quantitative yields via the selection of superior clones of saffron. Key words: Saffron, Molecular variation, Germplasm, RAPD, ISSR, Khorasan region, clustering .
Agriculture
hossein sahabi; Mohsen jahan; alireza kochaki; Mehdi Nassiri Mahallati
Abstract
In general, corm weight and nutrient management are considered as the most important factors in relation to quantitative and qualitative traits of saffron. In order to investigate the effects of mother corm origin, mother corm weight and nutrient foliar application on yield and qualitative traits of ...
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In general, corm weight and nutrient management are considered as the most important factors in relation to quantitative and qualitative traits of saffron. In order to investigate the effects of mother corm origin, mother corm weight and nutrient foliar application on yield and qualitative traits of saffron, a field experiment was conducted as factorial layout based on a randomized complete block design with three replications at the Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran, during the years from 2012 to 2015. The mother corm origin (Iranian and Spanish corms), mother corm weight 8 g and lower (small), 8.1–15 g (medium) and 15.1-23 g (large) and nutrient foliar application (application and control) were considered as the first, second and third experimental factors, respectively. According to the results, the larger mother corms significantly resulted in a greater number of flowers per m2, increased fresh flower and dry stigma + style yields. However, the effect of nutrient foliar application was observed to be not significant on these traits. When Iranian mother corms were planted, the number of flowers per m2, fresh flower and dry stigma + style yields were higher, compared with Spanish mother corms. For instance, flower number, fresh flower and dry stigma + style yields increased by 17, 13 and 14%, respectively, when planting Iranian mother corms. Nonetheless, picrocrocin concentration was higher (up to 3.8%) in the Spanish planted corm treatment. Based on the results, beside the optimal nutrient foliar application, the importance of adapting the corms origin with environmental conditions of the site designated for planting is emphasized.
Agriculture
Hesam Aryanpour; hossein sahabi; Hassan Feizi; Alijan Salariyan; Amir Salari
Abstract
Cow manure is one of the most commonly used fertilizers in saffron cultivation, but its main problem is the slow process of decomposition and the slow release of nutrients in the short term; leading to over use of chemical fertilizers by farmers. It is expected that with the introduction of nanotechnology ...
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Cow manure is one of the most commonly used fertilizers in saffron cultivation, but its main problem is the slow process of decomposition and the slow release of nutrients in the short term; leading to over use of chemical fertilizers by farmers. It is expected that with the introduction of nanotechnology in the field of agriculture, a suitable solution will be found to improve the absorption time of organic fertilizers. Cattle manure nanoparticles can reduce the decomposition time of cattle manure with higher specific surface area. Therefore, a split-plot design was carried out using two conventional methods of mulching and mixing with soil on the performance of saffron and soil characteristics to compare the performance of conventional chemical fertilizers and cow manure with nano cow manure.The main factor in seven levels (including nano cow manure in two amounts of five and 20 tons per hectare and in two forms of application of mulch and mixed with soil, normal cow manure in the amount of 20 tons per hectare and in two forms of mulch and mixed with soil and no use cow manure) and the sub-factor included NPK chemical fertilizer (at two levels of use and non-use). The results showed that by making cattle manure nanosized, its half-life in the soil decreased from about 36 weeks to 11 weeks. Nano cow manure treatment of 20 tons per hectare mixed with soil showed an increase in dry stigma yield by 43.7, 46 and 57%, respectively, compared to conventional cow manure treatments, chemical fertilizer treatments, and controls. The nano application of cow manure resulted in maintaining more moisture, less mechanical resistance in the soil, and more percentage of nutrients in the plant. In the comparison of the two methods of mulching and mixing, it was observed that in the mulching method, the amount of moisture is higher and the surface mechanical resistance is lower in the soil, and in the mixing method, the amount of nutrients in the leaves is higher. The results showed that in treatments with nano cow manure, the mixed method is preferable to mulch. By making cattle manure nano, using the mixed method instead of mulch and applying higher levels of cattle manure, was reduced the synergistic effect of chemical fertilizers in increasing yield. As in nano cow manure treatment (20 tons per hectare mixed with soil) was not observed significant yield increase due to the addition of chemical fertilizer. Also, nano cow manuew five ton per hectare treatments (mulch and mixture) showed a 22% yield increase compared to conventional cow manure treatments. It is possible to increase the yield by 22% by making cow manure nanosized, along with reducing the consumption of cow manure by 75% in the second year of saffron cultivation.
Other subject about saffron
Mohammad Ali Behdani; Mahdi Gerami Sadeghian; Seyed vahid eslami; Mohammad Hossein Aminifard
Abstract
The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of foliar application of Acadian seaweed extract and Biomix liquid poultry manure on vegetative growth, corm, and yield of saffron. The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with three replications in the city of Ferdows city ...
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The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of foliar application of Acadian seaweed extract and Biomix liquid poultry manure on vegetative growth, corm, and yield of saffron. The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with three replications in the city of Ferdows city during the 2017-2018 growing year. Experimental treatments included four levels of Acadian seaweed extract (0, 1, 1.5, and 2 kg. l000 L-1 water) and four levels of liquid Biomix liquid poultry manure (0, 4, 5, and 6 L. l000 L-1 water). The results showed a significant effect of treatments on the studied traits, such as maximum number of flowers (99.50 N. m-2), fresh yield of flowers (33.34 g.m-2), dry weight of saffron stigma (0.341 g. m-2), dry leaf weight (0.592 g plant-1), and leaf length (63.75 cm) obtained in 2 kg. l000 L-1 seaweed extract. Besides, the results showed a significant effect of liquid poultry manure on flower number and yield (94.250 N.m-2 and 32.285 g. m-2, respectively), leaf length (60.66 cm), fresh and dry leaf weight (0.74 and 0.46 g.m-2, respectively), and total weight of replacement corm (37.02 g.m-2). Also, the least amount of the mentioned traits were observed from the control treatment. The interaction between these two fertilizers was also significant in fresh and dry leaf weight and the total and average diameter of replacement corm. Thus, fresh and dry leaf weight (210% and 273%, respectively) were highest in the treatment of 2 kg. l000 L-1 of seaweed extract and 6 L. l000 L-1 of liquid poultry manure. Moreover, total and average diameter of replacement corm (33% and 50%, respectively) were highest in the treatment of 2 kg. l000 L-1 of seaweed extract and no liquid poultry manure. According to the results of this study, the use of Acadian seaweed extract (2 kg. l000L-1 water) alone or in combination with Biomix liquid poultry manure (6 L. l000 L-1 water) can play an important role in enhancing the vegetative growth, corm, and yield of saffron.
Other subject about saffron
mohamad mokhtari; Alireza Koocheki; Mehdi Nassiri Mahallati
Abstract
Studies that investigated the impact of organic fertilizers (manure, compost and biological fertilizers) and agronomical practices (density, method, date and depth of planting) on saffron yield have a long history in Iran. Due to the distribution and inconsistency in the results obtained from different ...
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Studies that investigated the impact of organic fertilizers (manure, compost and biological fertilizers) and agronomical practices (density, method, date and depth of planting) on saffron yield have a long history in Iran. Due to the distribution and inconsistency in the results obtained from different studies, a meta-analytic approach was used in the current study. for this aim, 47 organic fertilizers studies and 44 agronomical practices studies were selected from 202 gathered studies and analyzed. The criteria for the selection of studies were the adequacy of data for the present meta-analysis. Among the individual fertilizer studies, manure fertilizer had the highest impact on saffron dry weight (g= 1.493) at 95% confidence interval. Average amount, 40 to 50ton/ha of cow manure, 20 to 30ton/ha of compost that is used as a combination with Biofertilizer (Nitroxin with Nitrogen-fixing bacteria) were more effective than higher amounts of these fertilizers will be alone. Among the agronomical practices studies, plant density had the highest and depth of planting had the lowest effect size on economical yield and number of flower. The optimal density for maximum yield was 50-100 corm per (m2), optimal consumed weight average 9-12 ton per hectare observed, optimal weight of any corm was 10-20 (g). Among planting methods, row-mass method was the best optimal (inter-planting was 20 cm and intra-planting 10 cm). The best planting dates was the end of May and the first decade of Jun. Optimal planting depth was 15-20cm. Homogeneity between organic fertilizers studies was accepted and the homogeneity between agronomical practices except depth of planting studies was accepted. This heterogeneity was caused by factors such as age of farms and different regions that had the most impact on heterogeneity and effect size. The present meta-analysis aims to provide a better understanding of agronomical and fertilizers management and offer the best possible management for this crop.
Agriculture
Mansoore Kermani; Shahram Amirmoradi
Abstract
This research was carried out as factorial experiment basis on randomized block design with four replications on a three-year saffron farm in Mashhad at 2017/2018 crop year. The experimental factors were different concentrations of silica (0, 0.3, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.2 and 1.5 lit/ha) and the number of spraying ...
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This research was carried out as factorial experiment basis on randomized block design with four replications on a three-year saffron farm in Mashhad at 2017/2018 crop year. The experimental factors were different concentrations of silica (0, 0.3, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.2 and 1.5 lit/ha) and the number of spraying times (Once, twice and three times). Silica spraying (with Crapsil brand) was performed on February 6, March 1 and March 6, 2017.The results showed that the main effect of silica, the number of sprays and their interaction on all studied traits were significant. Mean comparisons of the experimental factors revealed that at the concentration of 1.2 lit/ha silica and two times of spraying, the highest number of flowers per plant(693 flowers), leaf dry weight(3.56 gr/plant), fresh weight of corm(67.25 gr/plant), stigma length(3.8 cm), fresh and dry weight of stigma(1656.5 and 14.39 kg/ha respectively),Safranal (33%) and crocin (192.75%) obtained. The highest amount of picrocrocin (66.35%) was obtained at the concentration of 1.5 lit/ha and two times of spraying. Therefore, the application of silica with the concentration of 1.2 lit/ha in the two stages of spraying was the best treatment and was able to increase the number of flowers per plant, fresh weight of corms and dry weight of stigma 26.5, 106 and 21.2 percent, respectively compared with the control treatment.
Agriculture
Sajjad Moradi Moghaddam; Hamid-Reza Fallahi; Mohammad. Ali Behdani; Sohrab Mahmoodi
Abstract
The storage conditions of saffron mother corms during the summer dormancy period, including natural and pseudo-dormancy stages, can probably affect the vegetative growth and the production of replacement corms (RC), which has not received enough attention in previous scientific studies. This experiment ...
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The storage conditions of saffron mother corms during the summer dormancy period, including natural and pseudo-dormancy stages, can probably affect the vegetative growth and the production of replacement corms (RC), which has not received enough attention in previous scientific studies. This experiment was carried out as a complete randomized block design with seven treatments and three replicates during the 2019 growing season in Qaen, Iran. Experimental treatments were three types of corm storage inside the soil [corm planting on 5th June (A) with natural soil temperature as control, A + summer irrigation on 5th August, and A + mulch application obtained from wheat residues at the rate of 8 ton.ha-1)] and four types of corm storage outside the soil [corm storage at room (ambient temperature) for three months started from 5th June + corm planting on 5th September (B), corm storage in constant temperature (25 oC and relative humidity of ~40 %) in incubator for three months + B, three months corm storage at variable temperature in incubator (one month in 20, 25 and 20 oC) + B and corm storage in room temperature (up to 5th August) and incubator (up to 5th September) + B. The studied traits were the length, number, and weight of leaves, the number and weight of the total RC, the weight of the main RC, the average weight of RCs, and the number and yield of RCs in different weight groups. The results showed that mulch application caused the highest length and number of leaves (35 cm and 9 No per plant, respectively). Incubation of corms at variable temperatures led to a significant increase in the total weight of RC. In contrast, incubation at constant temperature had most significant effect on the number of RC (2022 corms per m2). The highest and the lowest mean weights of RC were obtained in the mulch application (7.23 g) and incubation at constant temperature (2.22 g), respectively. Plant residue treatment (mulch) decreased the number of small RC (less than 6 g) and increased the number of RC in the weight groups of 9-12 and 12-15 g. Incubation of mother corms at variable temperatures led to an increase in the number and yield of RC weighing more than 15 g. Overall, the treatments of plant residue consumption and storage of mother corms at incubator with variable temperatures, in which 66% and 61% of the RC yield was in groups weighing more than 9 g, respectively, were the best experimental treatments in terms of improving the growth of RC.
Agriculture
Ghorban Ali Asadi; soror Khorramdel; Reza Ghorbani; Bahareh Bicharanlou
Abstract
In order to evaluate the effects of organic, chemical and biological fertilizers and summer irrigation on growth characteristics, corm yield, flower yield and stigma yield of saffron, field experiment was conducted as factorial based on a randomized complete block design with three replications at Agricultural ...
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In order to evaluate the effects of organic, chemical and biological fertilizers and summer irrigation on growth characteristics, corm yield, flower yield and stigma yield of saffron, field experiment was conducted as factorial based on a randomized complete block design with three replications at Agricultural Research station, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad during three growing season of 2013-2014, 2014-2015 and 2015-2016. The first factor included of animal cow manure (a1), chemical fertilizer (such as Nitrogen, P and K) (a2), Thiobacillus (a3), sulfur (a4), a3+a4 and control (a5) and the second factor was summer irrigation in three levels such as conventional irrigation (A: without summer irrigation), A+ once summer irrigation (23 July), A+ twice summer irrigation (22 June+23 July). Studied characteristics were number and fresh weight of flower, dry weight of stigma, corm diameter, corm weight in four groups (16 g), corms with contractile roots, number of flowering buds per corm, leaf length, dry weight of leaf and dry weight of tunic of saffron. The results in the third of experiment revealed that the interaction effect between fertilizers and summer irrigation were significant (P≤0.01) on all studied traits of saffron except stigma dry weight, corms with weight more than 16 g and dry weight of daughter corms. The highest flower number (282.7 per m2), flower fresh weight (103.2 g/m2), stigma dry weight (1.73 g/m2), leaf dry weight (13.33 g/m2), buds dry weight (4.61 g/m2), flowering buds number per corm (2.627), corm percentage with cractile roots (58.41%), corm diameter (2.97 cm) and corms in different weight were obtained in animal manure and A+once summer irrigation. About simple effects, the highest stigma dry weight and dry weight of daughter corms were observed in animal manure and the highest amount of this traits were obtained in treatment A+once summer irrigation. It seems that summer irrigation increased the flower and stigma yield of saffron due to decreasing soil temperature.
Processing, food industry and biochemistry
Maryam Akbarian; Fakhri Shahidi; Mohammad Javad Varidi; Arash Koocheki; sahar roshanak
Abstract
Saffron is the most expensive agricultural product in the world and Iran is the largest saffron producer in the world. Saffron contamination in different stages of the production process, in addition to quality loss leads to reducing credit in the global market and exporting. Therefore, it is necessary ...
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Saffron is the most expensive agricultural product in the world and Iran is the largest saffron producer in the world. Saffron contamination in different stages of the production process, in addition to quality loss leads to reducing credit in the global market and exporting. Therefore, it is necessary to select an appropriate method for inactivation the microbial flora of saffron. Among the common methods that used to inactivation the microorganisms, cold plasma is due to the potential benefits such as non-toxic nature, low operational costs, and a significant reduction in water consumption during decontamination, and the possibility of its use for a variety of food products has attracted much attention. Plasma is a state of ionizing gas, including ions, electrons, ultraviolet rays, and reactive species such as radicals, atoms and molecules that can ignite, which can inactivate microorganisms. in this research, cold plasma was produced using two types of gas including nitrogen and air, and the effect of plasma radiation at 0, 3, 6, 9 and 12 minutes on the chemical and microbial (Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Mold and Yeast) properties of saffron were investigated. The results of this study showed that germicidal effect of nitrogen plasma was lower than air plasma and the plasma exposure time had a significant effect on reduction of microbial load and by increasing the time of plasma exposure, the inactivation of microorganisms increased. The maximum microbial reduction was observed in 12 minutes. Maximum reduction in microbial load was observed at 12 minutes and 18 kilovolt voltage, which reduced the population of Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, mold and yeast by 2/69, 2/48, 1/95 log cycle respectively, However, with increasing radiation time, the amount of crocin, picocrocin and safranal decreased (p˂0.05). Reduction of crocin, safranal and picocrocin in 12 minutes was 6/01, 4/04, 5/44%, respectively.
Agriculture
Surur Khorramdel; F. Moallem Banhangi; S.J. Davarpanah
Abstract
Saffron field from the onset of dormancy to flowering phase is free of vegetation and increased soil temperature and reduced land use efficiency are the clearest problems of sole saffron cultivation. In order to study the effect of intercropping patterns of mallow (Malva sylvetris L.) as a perennial ...
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Saffron field from the onset of dormancy to flowering phase is free of vegetation and increased soil temperature and reduced land use efficiency are the clearest problems of sole saffron cultivation. In order to study the effect of intercropping patterns of mallow (Malva sylvetris L.) as a perennial medicinal plant with saffron (Crocus sativus L.) on replacement corm growth and flower yield affected as possible cooling of corms for climate change and global warming mitigation, an experiment was conducted at Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran during three growing seasons of 2015-2016, 2016-2017 and 2017-2018. Treatments were 15, 30, 45 and 60-cm row spacings for saffron from mallow planting rows and sole saffron and mallow cultivations. Based on results in the third year, the effect of intercropping patterns with mallow was significant on yield indicators of flower and corm of saffron. In comparison between sole cultivation and intercropped saffron revealed that the highest values for flower number, dried stigma yield and yield of replacement corms were recorded for sole saffron cultivation with 81 flowers.m-2, 0.2115 g.m-2 and 26.51 g.m-2, respectively. In comparisons amongst intercropping patterns, the highest values for these criteria were related to 30-cm row spacings from mallow with 46 flowers.m-2, 0.155 g.m-2 and 13.39 g.m-2, respectively. However, corcin, picrocrocin and safranal contents were not significantly affected by intercropping patterns with mallow. Effect of intercropped saffron was significant on fresh weight of flower, dried weight of flower and branches number per plant of mallow. The maximum value for dried flower weight was observed for 60-cm row spacing with 28.89 g.m-2. The range for LER calculated with 1.01-1.77 and the maximum value was for 15-cm row spacing.
Agriculture
Hamidreza sharifi; zohreh nabipour; mohammad joleini
Abstract
In order to investigate the effect of different methods and levels of irrigation water on some vegetative and reproductive characteristics of saffron, this research was carried out in the form of a split-plot experiment in the form of a randomized complete block design with three replications at the ...
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In order to investigate the effect of different methods and levels of irrigation water on some vegetative and reproductive characteristics of saffron, this research was carried out in the form of a split-plot experiment in the form of a randomized complete block design with three replications at the Razavi Khorasan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Training Center. (Gonabad Research Station) was carried out in the crop years of 2017-2018. In this research, irrigation method treatments (including basin, drip and sprinkler (Pflex) methods) were in the main plot and different levels of irrigation water (including supplying 100, 75 and 50% of the water requirement) were in the sub plot. Results The comparison of the averages showed that in both years of the experiment, changing the irrigation method from basin to drip (tape) and sprinkler (P-flex) led to an increase in the studied properties. Reducing the amount of irrigation water from 100% to 50% of the water requirement also caused a decrease in leaf characteristics and stigma yield, but the efficiency of irrigation water consumption increased. Based on this, reducing the water requirement of saffron from 100 to 50% in the first and second year caused a 33% and 30% decrease in stigma yield, and a 32% and 37% increase in water consumption efficiency, respectively. Examining the interaction effects table showed that in the first year of the experiment, reducing the amount of irrigation from 100 to 50% caused a greater reduction in the total length of leaves per square meter under drip irrigation (tape) than the other two irrigation methods (82% in the drip method (tape) in contrast to 79% in the sprinkler (P-flex) method and 69% in the basin method). Based on this, although the positive effect and relative advantage of modern irrigation systems is decreasing with the increase in the age of the farm, it seems that it is possible to achieve optimal performance in the region by using rain irrigation sprinkler (P-flex) method in 100% of the water requirement.
Agriculture
Zeinab Alipoor; Sohrab Mahmoodi
Abstract
This study was conducted in two factorial experiment based on completely randomized design with three replications at research laboratory of faculty of agriculture in University of Birjand in 2013. Factors included saffron organs at 2 levels (leaves and corms) and water extract concentrations at 5 levels ...
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This study was conducted in two factorial experiment based on completely randomized design with three replications at research laboratory of faculty of agriculture in University of Birjand in 2013. Factors included saffron organs at 2 levels (leaves and corms) and water extract concentrations at 5 levels (0, 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2 percent).The allelopathic effects of saffron leaves and corms on seed germination and seedling growth characteristics of flixweed (Descurainia sophia L.) and downy brome (Bromus tectorum L.) were studied in two separate experiments. Results indicated lowest seed germination percentage of downy brome and flixweed were observed at concentration of 2% of corm extract (by 65% and 66% reduce compared to control, respectively). The rate of germination of downy brome decreased (by 71% compared to control) with concentration of 2% of leaf extract but the rate of germination on flixweed was not significantly affected by extract concentrations. Different concentrations of leaf and corm extracts significantly decreased length and weight of plumule and radicals of two weeds. A logistic model provided a successful estimation of relationship between leaf water extract and germination percentage of two weeds. Based on orthogonal comparison tests, the allelopathic inhibition effects of saffron leaves and corms were more on downy brome and flixweed, respectively.
Agriculture
Abdollah Mollafilabi; Alireza Koocheki; Parviz Rezvani Moghaddam; Mahdi Nassiri Mahallati2
Abstract
Saffron is the most precious spice crop in the world which nowadays has nutritional, medical and industrial importance. Its average yield is 4.83 kg/ha in Iran. The research was conducted to investigate the effect of corm weight and its density on yield and yield components of saffron under soil, hydroponic ...
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Saffron is the most precious spice crop in the world which nowadays has nutritional, medical and industrial importance. Its average yield is 4.83 kg/ha in Iran. The research was conducted to investigate the effect of corm weight and its density on yield and yield components of saffron under soil, hydroponic and plastic tunnel conditions. The effect of three different weights of corm (6-8, 8-10 and more than 10 g) and also three different densities of corm (50, 100 and 150 corms per m²) was investigated in factorial experiment based on CRD with three replications. The traits which were investigated included: number of flower, fresh weight of flower, fresh and dry weight of stigma and style, and economic yield. The results showed that the main effects of bed types. Weight and corm density were significant in all traits. Interactions of bed type and corm weight were significant at 5% except for flower dry weight, and dry weight of stigma + style that were not significant .As well, Interactions of bed type and corm density, corm weight and density and all interactions of bed type ,corm weight and density were not significant in all traits. The heavier corms (more than 10 g) provided the highest yield. By decreasing corm weight, all traits were reduced significantly. Also the results showed that least yield(stigma dry weight) obtained from hydroponic cultivation with 50/ m² yielded 4.14 kg/ha and increase in yield (dry weight of stigma) was obtained under soil cultivation and in the density of 150 corms/m² economical yield was equivalent to 7.36 kg/ha in the first year.
Economics and Marketing
Hadis Kavand; Elham Kalbali; Mahmoud Sabuhi
Abstract
Agricultural sector to meet the requests such as a higher yield, less pollution and fulfill consumer demands due to increasing scarcity of resources is under pressure. According to the importance of efficiency in productivity growth, this index can play an important rule, especially in developing countries, ...
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Agricultural sector to meet the requests such as a higher yield, less pollution and fulfill consumer demands due to increasing scarcity of resources is under pressure. According to the importance of efficiency in productivity growth, this index can play an important rule, especially in developing countries, for the development of agricultural systems in order to meet these requests. The aim of this study was to evaluate the technical, economic and allocative efficiency of producers of saffron for Qaen region using data envelopment analysis. Information and data is collected through completion 50 questionnaires in year 2011-2012. Results show that average technical efficiency, allocative and economic in condition of constant return to scale are 0.86, 0.92, and 0.88 and in condition of variable return scale are 0.89, 0.92, and 0.80, respectively. Also, according to the results obtained, educating and advising farmers to the proper use of available resources, and promotion, and the use of appropriate technologies such as improved efficiency is recommended.
Agriculture
Jalal Ghanbari; Gholamreza Khajoei-Nejad
Abstract
Emergence of saffron buds is sensitive to soil compaction and structure. Soil bulk density is introduced as the most important index of soil physical quality. Accordingly, this study was done to evaluate the effect of compost and compost-biochar in planting bed on the emergence and early seedling growth ...
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Emergence of saffron buds is sensitive to soil compaction and structure. Soil bulk density is introduced as the most important index of soil physical quality. Accordingly, this study was done to evaluate the effect of compost and compost-biochar in planting bed on the emergence and early seedling growth of saffron ecotypes and its relationship to soil bulk density. Experimental treatments consisted of planting beds (without any organic amendment (control), incorporation of 20 t.ha-1 compost and 10 t.ha-1 compost+ 8 t.ha-1 biochar (cellulosic material of hardwood)) and different ecotypes of saffron (Bajestan, Estahban, Ferdows, Gonabad, Natanz, Qaen, Sarayan, Torbate-Heydarieh and Zarand). Data obtained from experiment were subjected to combined analysis of variance among planting beds based on randomized complete block design. The results showed that application of compost and compost+biochar, improved emergence of the main and lateral buds as well as leaf growth parameters compared to the control. Zarand, Torbate-Heydarieh and Estahban ecotypes responded differently to the planting bed types in terms of emergence percent and rate of main bud compared to other ecotypes. Considerable variation was observed among the ecotypes in terms of all studied parameters, which indicated the adaptability of ecotypes to climatic conditions of corm provenance. Generally, the Bajestan, Ferdows and Qaen ecotypes showed superiority in terms of leaf area and dry weight. Compost and compost-biochar significantly (12%) reduced the soil bulk density compared to the control. Linear regression analysis indicated that there was a negative relationship between soil bulk density and the studied parameters, and significant decrease in all parameters was observed with increasing of soil bulk density.
Other subject about saffron
Ramin Nazarian; Hossein sahabi; Hassan Feizi; Ahmad Ahmadian
Abstract
In order to study the effect of planting density on flower and corm yield of Spanish and Iranian saffron (Crocus sativus L.) types, an experiment was arranged in factorial with randomized complete block design with three replications. This experiment was conducted on the Research Farm of the Faculty ...
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In order to study the effect of planting density on flower and corm yield of Spanish and Iranian saffron (Crocus sativus L.) types, an experiment was arranged in factorial with randomized complete block design with three replications. This experiment was conducted on the Research Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad in 2013-15. The saffron corm type was considered in two levels (a1: Iranian corm and a2: Spanish corm) and the planting densities were in three levels (d1:40, d2:48 and d3:60 corm.m-2). The two year results showed that the effect of different planting density and saffron corm types on the number of flowers, flower fresh and dry weight (stigma + style) and number of replacement corms were significant (P<0.01) while, the effect of corm type on fresh and dry weight of replacement corms was not significant. The highest number of flowers (30.25 No.m-2), flower fresh weight (15.125 g. m-2) and (stigma + style) dry weight (0.16 g.m-2) were obtained in d2 (48 corm.m-2), respectively. Corm type had significant effects on saffron flower characteristics. The highest numbers of flowers (27.21 No.m-2), flower fresh weight (13.58 g.m-2) and (stigma + style) dry weight (0.144 g.m-2) were obtained from Iranian corms (a1), respectively. However, the highest number (222.83 No.m-2), fresh weight (694.92 g.m-2) and dry weight (270.32 g.m-2) of replacement corms were obtained from Spanish corms (a2), respectively. The years had significant effects on saffron flower and corm characteristics as the highest amounts were obtained in second year (Y2), respectively.
Agriculture
Rooholla Moradi; Nsibeh Pourghasemian
Abstract
In order to study effect of various additive intercropping series of saffron and cumin on their yields, and yield components, an experiment was conducted as split-plot arrangement based on randomized complete block design with three replications in a two years saffron research farm in agricultural faculty ...
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In order to study effect of various additive intercropping series of saffron and cumin on their yields, and yield components, an experiment was conducted as split-plot arrangement based on randomized complete block design with three replications in a two years saffron research farm in agricultural faculty of Bardsir at 2016-2017. The experimental treatments were planting dates (November 11, December 11, March 6 and April 4) assigned to main plot, and additive intercropping series (25, 50, 75 and 100% of optimum density of cumin (120 plant m-2), sole saffron (50 plant m-2), sole cumin) as subplot. The studied traits were including number of umbrella per plant, essential oil percentage, seed, biological and essential oil yield, and also saffron flower number, flower yield, stigma yield, number of replacement corm, corm weight and number of infected corm. The results showed that delaying in cumin planting date led to a notable decrease in cumin yield and yield components, in all the planting patterns. The reduction values of cumin seed yield in March and April planting dates compared to November were 39% and 64%, respectively. Cumin essential oil at November (2.79%), December (2.78%) and April (2.83%) planting dates were higher than March (2.42%). The experimental treatments had no significant effect on corm number, but cumin planting at spring contained greater infected corms than fall planting. The corm weight was declined as affected by delay in planting date and increase in cumin density. The saffron flower and stigma yield in fall intercropping was significantly higher than spring intercropping. Intercropping had negative impacts on saffron productivity, and the highest stigma yield (2.97 kg ha-1) was assigned to sole cropping. In general, the maximum (1.51) LER was related to fall intercropping of cumin and saffron.
Agriculture
Roohollah Saeidi Aboueshaghi; Heshmat omidi; Amir bostani
Abstract
In order to investigate the effect of chicken manure and chemical fertilizers on some morphological characteristics and yield flowers and replacement corms of saffron under irrigation regimes, a split plot experiment on the basis of complete randomized block design was conducted at the shahrekord and ...
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In order to investigate the effect of chicken manure and chemical fertilizers on some morphological characteristics and yield flowers and replacement corms of saffron under irrigation regimes, a split plot experiment on the basis of complete randomized block design was conducted at the shahrekord and two consecutive crop years (2018-2019 and 2019-2020) with three replications. Irrigation as main plot at three levels (Fc (0% moisture depletion), %33 moisture depletion and %66 moisture depletion) and nutrition as sub-plot at six levels (control (without fertilizer application), 100% recommended chemical fertilizer, 100% recommended chicken manure, 25% chemical fertilizer + 75% chicken manure, 50% chemical fertilizer + 50% chicken manure and 75% chemical fertilizer + 25% chicken manure) were used. Chicken manure at a rate of 3 tons per hectare and chemical fertilizers including: urea 100 kg, potassium sulfate 150 kg, triple superphosphate 50 kg, iron sulfate 45 kg, zinc sulfate 15 kg and manganese sulfate 20 kg, all per hectare based on soil decomposition and the plant needs, were used. Also, the morphological traits and production of flowers and replacement corms was evaluated. The results showed that the interaction effect of year × irrigation × nutrition on all studied traits except leaf number, leaf length and replacement corm diameter was significant at 1% level. The mean comparison compound of the interaction of year × irrigation × nutrition showed that the highest dry yield of stigma and style in the second year, under %33 moisture depletion and 75% chicken manure + 25% chemical fertilizer treatment at the rate of 9.21 kg /ha and the lowest amount In the first year, %66 moisture depletion and control was obtained at the rate of 3.3 kg / ha. With increasing water stress intensity, the effect of 75% chicken manure + 25% chemical fertilizers treatment on the yield of replacement corm increased compared to the control and the effect of this treatment in the second year was more compared to the first year, so that in the first year and field capacity (%0 moisture depletion), increasing yield of replacement corm in this treatment compared to the control was 3.2%, in %33 moisture depletion 11.8% and in %66 moisture depletion, 26.7% , and in the second years, was respectively 11.2%, 15.5% and 38.9%. Therefore, this treatment had the highest effect on increasing the yield of saffron stigma and style in all irrigation regimes in this experiment.
Agriculture
Mani Jabbari; Mehdi Khayyat; Hamid-reza Fallahi; Alireza samadzadeh
Abstract
Saffron that is an important medicinal plant of Iran is influenced by several environmental stresses. Therefore, the consumption of appropriate hormonal and nutritional compounds can reduce the negative impacts of stresses on it and improve the growth and yield of the plant. For this purposes, an experiment ...
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Saffron that is an important medicinal plant of Iran is influenced by several environmental stresses. Therefore, the consumption of appropriate hormonal and nutritional compounds can reduce the negative impacts of stresses on it and improve the growth and yield of the plant. For this purposes, an experiment was carried out based on a Randomized Complete Block Design with four replications to study the effect of Salicylic acid (0, 0.5, 1 and 2 mM) and Potassium Nitrate (0, 250,500 and 1000 ml.g-1), in the research field station of the College of Agriculture, the University of Birjand, Iran, in the growing season of 2015. The indices evaluated included flower and corolla fresh weight, stigma weight and length, leaf length, corm and cormel weights and diameter, chlorophyll florescence parameters and total chlorophyll content. The results showed that the highest amounts of Fv, Fv/Fm, F'v/F'm (117, 0.27 and 0.44, respectively), total chlorophyll (0.85 µg.g fresh weight), flower and corolla fresh weight (36.9 and 32.1 g.m-2, respectively), stigma weight (4.2 g.m-2) and length (29.6 mm) and leaf length (37.7 cm) were obtained at 2 mM level of salicylic acid, while the highest F'm was recorded at 0.5 mM salicylic acid. In addition, pretreatment with 1000 mg.l-1 potassium nitrate increased the amounts of cormel weight and diameter by 30% and 19% compared with the control, respectively. Generally, the results of this experiment indicated an enhancement in saffron growth and yield, affected by corms soaking in salicylic acid and potassium nitrate.
