Agriculture
Faride Ahmadi; Mohammad Hossein Aminifard; Mehdi Khayyat; Ali Reza Samadzade
Abstract
The effects of application of humic acid and planting density on vegetative and reproductive characteristics of saffron were evaluated under field conditions. Treatments were four levels humic acid (0, 5, 10 and 15 kg.ha-1) and three density plantings (50, 75 and 100 corm.m-2). This experiment was carried ...
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The effects of application of humic acid and planting density on vegetative and reproductive characteristics of saffron were evaluated under field conditions. Treatments were four levels humic acid (0, 5, 10 and 15 kg.ha-1) and three density plantings (50, 75 and 100 corm.m-2). This experiment was carried out as a factorial based on randomized completely block design with three replications in the research farm of Birjand University, Iran, during the cropping year 2015-2016. The results showed that humic acid levels improved the corm vegetative indices (total weight of corm, fresh and dry weight of corm). The highest total weight of corm (23.09 g.plant-1) was obtained in with 5 kg.ha-1 humic acid. The results also showed that humic acid improved the saffron flower characteristics (flower number and fresh total yield, stigma fresh and dry yield) in the second year. The highest stigma fresh (1.35 g.m-2) and stigma dry (0.23 g.m-2) yield were obtained in plants treated with 10 kg.ha-1 humic acid while the lowest values were recorded in the control group. Application of different levels of planting density had a positive effect on flower number and fresh total yield, stigma fresh and dry yield in the second year of experiment. The highest of these characteristics were observed in planting density of 100 corm.m-2. Application of different levels of planting density and humic acid had a positive effect on the stigma length and stigma fresh yield. Thus, the results showed that 5 kg.ha-1 of humic acid and 75 corm.m-2 planting density have a significant impact on vegetative and reproductive characteristics of saffron.
Agriculture
Farideh Ahmadi; Mohammad Hossein Aminifard; Mahdi Khayat; Alireza Samadzadeh
Abstract
The effects of applications of humic acid and planting density on antioxidant activities and components of saffron were evaluated under field conditions. Treatments were of four levels of humic acid (0, 5, 10 and 15 Kg.ha-1) and three densities of planting (50, 75 and 100 corms.m-2). The experiment was ...
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The effects of applications of humic acid and planting density on antioxidant activities and components of saffron were evaluated under field conditions. Treatments were of four levels of humic acid (0, 5, 10 and 15 Kg.ha-1) and three densities of planting (50, 75 and 100 corms.m-2). The experiment was designed in randomized block design with three replications at the research station of the Faculty of Agriculture at the University of Birjand during the growing season of 2015. Petal antioxidant compounds (antioxidan, total phenol and Anthocyanins) and active ingredients of saffron (picrocin, safranal and crocin) were influenced by humic acid and planting density treatments. The highest antioxidant activity (69.7%) was obtained in plants treated with 5 kg.ha-1 humic acid with a planting density of 50 corms.m-2. However, no significant difference was found in phenol content under different treatments. The highest anthocyanin content (46.4 mg.100 g-1) was observed in 10 kg.ha-1 humic acid with a planting density of 75 corms.m-2. Picrocin content was influenced in response to humic acid planting density and the highest value (40.60%) was obtained from 15 kg.ha-1 humic acid with a planting density of 75 corms.m-2. The highest safranal (20.1%) and crocin (55.57%) were obtained in plants treated with10 kg.ha-1 acid humic, while the lowest values were recorded in the control (15.70%) and (43.12%) respectively. Thus, the results showed that humic acid and planting density have strong impacts on antioxidant compounds and active ingredients of saffron under field conditions.