Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Ph.D Student, Professor, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad
2 Professor of faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad
3 Associate professor of faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad
4 Assistant professor of faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad
Abstract
In order to investigate the effects of different maternal corm weight and different levels of cow manure on saffron (Crocus sativus L.) production, an experiment was conducted at the Agricultural Research Station, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad during 2011- 2012 and 2012- 2013 growing seasons. For this purpose a factorial experiment was used based on complete randomized block design with three replications and 16 treatments. The experimental treatments were done at 4 levels of maternal corm weight (1.1- 3, 3.1- 5, 5.1- 7 and 7.1- 9 g) and 4 levels of cow manure (0, 20, 40 and 60 t.ha-1). Variance analysis results for studied characteristics of saffron corm showed that maternal corm weight, cow manure and maternal corm weight × cow manure had significant effects on these characteristics. Among the experimental treatments, maternal corm with 7.1- 9 g weight and the use rate of 60 t.ha-1 of cow manure treatment had both the highest total corm number (510 corm.m-2) and corm yield (1044 g.m-2). It seems that the corms with higher weight in the first year produce larger number of replacement corm than the corms with lower weight. The saffron flower yield characteristics showed that flower yield in the first year increased by increasing the maternal corm weight. The results of variance analysis of the number of flowers and fresh and dry yield of flower and stigma of saffron in the second year showed that the maternal corm weight, cow manure and maternal corm weight × cow manure had significant effects on them. These characteristics increased by increasing the maternal corm weight and levels of cow manure. It seems that producing replacement corm with high weight in the first year, requires large amount of maternal corm and high levels of cow manure usage.
Keywords
Main Subjects
- Alizadeh, A., Sayari, N., Ahmadian, J., and Mohamadian, A. 2009. Study for zoning the most appropriate time of irrigation of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) in Razavi, northern and southern Khorasan provinces. Journal of Water and Soil 23(1): 109-118. (In Persian with English Summary)
- Amirghasemi, T. 2001. Saffron, Red Gold of Iran. Nashr- Ayandegan Publication 112 pp. (In Persian)
- Amiri, M.E. 2008. Impact of animal manures and chemical fertilizers on yield components of saffron (Crocus sativus L.). American-Eurasian Journal of Agriculture and Environmental Science 4: 274-279.
- Arslan, N., Ozer, A.S., and Akdemir, R. 2009. Cultivation of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) and effects of organic fertilizers to the flower yield. Acta Horticulturae 826: 237-240.
- Azizi-Zohan, A.A., Kamgar-Haghighi, A.A., and Sepaskhah, A.R. 2006. Effect of irrigation method and frequency on corm and saffron production (Crocus sativus L.). Journal of Science and Technology of Agriculture and Natural Resources 10(1): 45-54. (In Persian with English Summary)
- Azizi-Zohan, A.A., Kamgar-Haghighi, A.A., and Sepaskhah, A.R. 2008. Crop and pan coefficients for saffron in a semi-arid region of Iran. Journal of Arid Environments 72: 270-278. (In Persian with English Summary)
- Behdani, M.A., Koocheki, A., Nassiri, M., and Rezvani Moghaddam, P. 2006. Evaluation of quantitative relationships between saffron yield and nutrition (on farm trial). Iranian Journal of Field Crops Research 3: 1-14. (In Persian with English Summary)
- Behnia, M.R. 2009. Effect of planting methods and corm density in saffron (Crocus sativus L.) yield in damavand region. Pajouhesh and Sazandegi 79: 101-08. (In Persian with English Summary)
- Ghorbani, R., and Koocheki, A. 2006. Organic saffron in Iran: prospects and challenges. Acta Horticulture 739: 369-374.
- Hoseyni, M., Mollafilabi, A., and Nassiri Mahallati, M.2008. Spatial and temporal patterns in saffron (Crocus sativus L.) yield of Khorasan province and their relationship with long term weather variation. Iranian Journal of Field Crops Research 6(1): 79-88. (In Persian with English Summary)
- Jahan, M., and Jahani, M. 2007. The effects of chemical and organic fertilizers on saffron flowering. Acta Horticulturae 739: 81-86.
- Jami-alahmadi, M., Behdani, M.A., and Akbarpour, A. 2009. Analysis of agronomic effective factors on yield of saffron agroecosystems in southern khorasan. 3nd International Symposium on Saffron, 20-23 may. Greece. pp 14.
- Kafi, M. 2002. Saffron, Production and Processing. Zaban va Adab Press (In Persian).
- Koocheki, A. 2004. Indigenous knowledge in agriculture with particular reference to saffron production in Iran. Acta Horticulturae 650: 175-182.
- Koocheki, A., Alizadeh, A., and Ganjali, A. 2010. The effect of increased temperature on flowering behaviour of saffron (Crocus sativus L.). Iranian Journal of Field Crops Research 8(2): 324-335. (In Persian with English Summary)
- Koocheki, A., Rezvani Moghaddam, P., Mollafilabi, A., and Seyyedi, S.M. 2013. Effects of corm planting density and applying manure on flower and corm yields of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) in the first year. Journal of Agroecology (in press). (In Persian with English Summary)
- Koochaki, A., Tabrizi, L., Jahani, M., and Mohammad Abadi, A.A. 2012. An evaluation of the effect of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) corm planting rate and pattern on the crop's performance. Iranian Journal of Horticultural Science 42: 379-391. (In Persian with English Summary)
- Mohammdi Aria, M., Lakzian, A., Haghnia, Gh., Besharati, H., and Fotovat, A. 2010. The effect of Thiobacillus and Aspergillus on phosphorus availability of enriched rock phosphate with sulfur and vermicompost. Journal of Water and Soil 24: 1-9. (In Persian with English Summary)
- Molina, R.V., Valero, M., Navarro, Y., Guardiola J.L., and Garcia-Luice, A. 2005. Temperature effects on flower formation in saffron (Crocus sativus L.). Scientia Horticulture 103: 361-379.
- Mosaferi, Z.H., 2001. Effects of different irrigation regimes on saffron yield. M.Sc. Thesis, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran. (In Persian)
- Naderi Darbaghshahi, M.R., Khajebashi, S.M., Banitaba, S.A., and Dehdashti, S.M. 2009. Effects of planting method, density and depth on yield and production period of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) in Isfahan region. Seed and Plant 24: 643-657. (In Persian with English Summary)
- Nassiri Mahallati, M., Koocheki, A., Boroumand Rezazadeh, Z., and Tabrizi, L. 2007. Effects of corm size and storage period on allocation of assimilates in different parts of saffron plant (Crocus sativus L.). Iranian Journal of Field Crops Research 5: 155-166. (In Persian with English Summary)
- Omidi, H., Naghdibadi, H.A., Golzad, A., Torabi, H., and Fotoukian, M.H. 2009. The effect of chemical and bio-fertilizer source of nitrogen on qualitative and quantitative yield of saffron (Crocus sativus L.). Journal of Medicinal Plant 8: 98-109. (In Persian with English Summary)
- Pandey, D., Pandey, V.S., and Srivastava, R.P. 1979. A note on the effect of the size of corms on the sprouting and flowering of saffron. Progressive Horticulture 6: 89-92.
- Rezvani-Moghaddam, P., Mohammad-Abadi, A.A., and Sabori, A. 2006. Effect of different animal manure on flower yield and qualitative and quantitative characteristics of forage production of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) in Mashhad conditions. Acta Horticulture 739: 159-163.
- Rezvani Moghaddam, P., Mohammad abadi, A.A., Fallahi, J., and Aghhavani Shajari, M. 2010. Effects of chemical and organic fertilizers on number of corm and stigma yield of saffron (Crocus sativus L.). 59th International Congress and Annual Meeting of the Society for Medicinal Plant and Natural Product Research.
- Sadeghi, B. 1993. Effect of corm weight on flowering of saffron. Research and industrial Institutes of Khorasan, Press. 73 pp. (In Persian)
)