Economics and Marketing
Somayeh Koochakzadeh; Alireza Karbasi
Abstract
Considering the role of the foreign commerce in economic development of the country and the emphasis of economy planners to develop non-oil exports, and also to get released from the single-product economy, it is necessary to pay more attention to one product economy. Among the export products with substantial ...
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Considering the role of the foreign commerce in economic development of the country and the emphasis of economy planners to develop non-oil exports, and also to get released from the single-product economy, it is necessary to pay more attention to one product economy. Among the export products with substantial privilege, saffron is considered as an important product in the economy. This is because of its special position in the occupation of farmers in the agriculture sector and having a considerable exchange income for the country. The importance of saffron as a valuable export product in the country’s economy and also in world economy becomes more obvious now. To keep Iran’s position as the greatest producer and exporter of saffron in world markets and increase the export of this valuable product, a study of the problems of export and its effective factors could be an important step in this case. Therefore, this research studied the effective factors on saffron commerce in Iran during the period of 2001-2013. In this study, the gravity model and the method of economy measuring panel is used. The result showed that the gross internal production and the population of importing countries and exchange rate with coefficients: 1.55, 0.015, and 0.54 have positive and considerable effect on Iranian saffron.
Economics and Marketing
Karim Naderi Mahdei; S.M.Jafar Esfahani
Abstract
Addressing the special conditions of saffron growing areas, and planning the optimum use of its production factors need specific attention and determination of the efficiency of saffron farms seems to be necessary. Thus, the current study attempts to measure the efficiency of saffron fields by using ...
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Addressing the special conditions of saffron growing areas, and planning the optimum use of its production factors need specific attention and determination of the efficiency of saffron farms seems to be necessary. Thus, the current study attempts to measure the efficiency of saffron fields by using bounded data envelopment analysis to give an overall assessment of the performance of the farms. The necessary data was collected by interviewing and filling 36 questionnaires by the saffron farmers of the city of Ghaen, Iran and the data were analyzed by GAMS software. The results showed that average optimistic output and input oriented efficiency is 1.259 and 0.849, respectively. Also, 13.8% of the farms are located on the inefficiency frontiers. 47 percent of the farms are surrounded by efficient and inefficient frontier that reflects the overuse of inputs and potential to produce more and reduce the use of inputs. According to the results, it may be suggested that the efficient farms should be considered as a pattern and we should present training of need assessment in inefficient farms in order to enhance farmers’ efficiency with appropriate and scientific planning.
Agriculture
Gholamabbas Fallahghalhary; Hamzeh Ahmadi
Abstract
In this research, the statistics of daily temperature of meteorology stations for estimating the probable occurrence of the first and last frost temperature, the phonological thresholds of saffron and its flowering and irrigation dates were explored. Furthermore, by applying different methods, the probabilities ...
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In this research, the statistics of daily temperature of meteorology stations for estimating the probable occurrence of the first and last frost temperature, the phonological thresholds of saffron and its flowering and irrigation dates were explored. Furthermore, by applying different methods, the probabilities of the attained dates in different probability levels were fit in Smada software. The estimated probability level of 95 percent, as the optimum date, was donated for the entire Isfahan province in ArcGIS9/3 software environment using the interpolation method of Cokriging. The time of occurrence of minimum temperatures is under the influence of the geographical and height condition of each region and the first fall season frost occurs in high regions of the eastern half of Isfahan province at the beginning of November and in the low-lying eastern regions in the late December. The occurrence of daily temperature is changeable from the first half of October and the second half of November. From the west to the east of Isfahan, the time of occurrence of this threshold has a delay of about one month. The optimum flowering date of saffron, based on climatic conditions, is from the first half of October to the late of November. By considering the flowering date and daily temperature requirement of saffron, the irrigation date prior to flowering continues from the second half of September in the western parts and the beginning of November in the eastern regions. From the perspective of thermal condition, the western, central, northern and eastern parts of Isfahan province are more suited to the cultivation and development of saffron product. The amount of water requirement in the study area based on evapotranspiration and crop coefficients of saffron occurred in the mid-season, late season and Initial.
Agriculture
fatemeh Arsalani; Seyed JavadRasouli
Abstract
In this study parameters of daily and monthly rainfall, minimum, average and maximum temperatures, relative humidity, number of sunny hours and number of freezing days in the towns of Kashmar and Ghaen were analyzed for a statistical period of 20 agricultural years (1992-2011). Several traditional methods ...
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In this study parameters of daily and monthly rainfall, minimum, average and maximum temperatures, relative humidity, number of sunny hours and number of freezing days in the towns of Kashmar and Ghaen were analyzed for a statistical period of 20 agricultural years (1992-2011). Several traditional methods of climate classification were used to compare climate conditions of Ghaen and Kashmar towns by climate determining software. Then effective meteorological indicators on saffron cultivation were selected. Results of climate classification by traditional methods showed that these towns are located in the same climate class. Although the climate was similar, but studies showed that saffron quality in color, odor and taste in Ghaen was higher than Kashmar. The Maximum temperature and relative humidity were the same in both towns. Relative humidity in both towns was the same, especially in October and November which coincided with the beginning of saffron flowering time. Minimum temperature and sunny hours made climate conditions of Ghaen at more favorable for saffron because of mountainous nature. Sunny hours in Ghaen during flowering season was more than Kashmar. Finally, a slight difference in three climate parameters, i.e. rainfall during summer, temperature and sunny hours cannot be the only reason for lower quality of saffron in Kashmar in comparison to Ghaen and saffron quality in Kashmar could be highly raised by other factors such as better planning and management.
Agriculture
Mahsa Aghhavani Shajari; Parviz Rezvani Moghaddam; Alireza Koocheki; Hamid-Reza Fallahi; Reza Taherpour Kalantari
Abstract
This experiment was conducted to study the effect of soil texture on flower and corm yield of saffron. This experiment was carried out based on Randomized Complete Block Design with four treatments and four replications in box at Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran, in 2011. ...
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This experiment was conducted to study the effect of soil texture on flower and corm yield of saffron. This experiment was carried out based on Randomized Complete Block Design with four treatments and four replications in box at Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran, in 2011. Treatments included of: 1- 100% field soil + cow manure, 2- 70% field soil + 30% sand, 3- 70% field soil + 30% sand + cow manure and 4- 70% sand + 30% field soil + cow manure. Results showed that the effect of soil texture was significant on all flower and corm properties. The highest flower and stigma fresh weight per box (1.59 and 0.10 g, respectively) and petal dry weight (0.12 g) were observed in 70% sand + 30% field soil + cow manure. The highest corm number in 2-3 cm diameter per box was obtained in 70% field soil + 30% sand + cow manure (3.75 numbers). Treatment of 70% sand + 30% field soil + cow manure produced the highest corm number in 3-6 g (1.75 numbers) and 6-9 g (1.25 numbers) per box, but the lowest values of most studied indices were obtained in 100% field soil + cow manure. Generally, our results indicated that light soil texture has more advantages than heavy soil texture in saffron cultivation. Therefore, soil modification through lighter soil application can improve saffron flower and corm yield.
Economics and Marketing
Alireza Karbasi; Hashem Mahmoudi; Behzad Fakari Sardehae; Mohammad Mehdi Farsi Aliabadi
Abstract
Saffron is one of the important agricultural product and North Khorasan, Razavi and South is considered as the major producers in Iran. In this study Central Market Hypothesis or price leadership has been examined. For this purpose Johanson Co-integration test for monthly price data since 2006 to 2011 ...
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Saffron is one of the important agricultural product and North Khorasan, Razavi and South is considered as the major producers in Iran. In this study Central Market Hypothesis or price leadership has been examined. For this purpose Johanson Co-integration test for monthly price data since 2006 to 2011 for these provinces has been used. Main results indicated that South Khorasan is a price leader between these provinces. In addition, saffron market is unit in South Khorasan and Khorasan Razavi and the law of one price is indefeasible. Moreover, North Khorasan has a separate market and in long run saffron market in this province is not an impressible market. The adoption of a policy on each of the three provinces, affects the other two the product market provinces.
Agriculture
Fatemeh Nasirian; Ali Sorooshzadeh; Faezeh Ghanati; Hussein Oraki
Abstract
This research was conducted in a completely randomized design with three replications, to evaluate the effect of root-zone temperature on antioxidant activity in saffron corm in 2013. In this experiment, effect of two root-zone temperatures (23±1°C and 33±1°C ) in growth chamber ...
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This research was conducted in a completely randomized design with three replications, to evaluate the effect of root-zone temperature on antioxidant activity in saffron corm in 2013. In this experiment, effect of two root-zone temperatures (23±1°C and 33±1°C ) in growth chamber on the activity of antioxidant enzymes: peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase, superoxide dismutase, catalase and auxin oxidase in the apical of saffron corms during corm dormancy stage (July) and at beginning corm growing stage (October) were studied. The results showed that at both root-zone temperatures the activity of all enzymes were least in July. Moreover at the 33°C root-zone temperature no differences in enzyme activities were observed between the months of July to October. In addition measured soluble sugars in buds and corms of saffron showed the highest rate of glucose, mannose, and arabinose at a temperature of 23° C, respectively. Thus, treatment of 23° C as the best temperature for storage and maintenance of saffron corms was introduced.
Economics and Marketing
Hashem Mahmoudi; Samira Afrasiabi
Abstract
Asymmetric price transmission is instances of market imperfection which can affect consumers’ welfare. Because of this matter, analyzing price transmission in agricultural market is an important issue. Saffron is a strategic agricultural commodity in Iran, which mostly produces in Razavi, North ...
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Asymmetric price transmission is instances of market imperfection which can affect consumers’ welfare. Because of this matter, analyzing price transmission in agricultural market is an important issue. Saffron is a strategic agricultural commodity in Iran, which mostly produces in Razavi, North and South Khorasan provinces. In this study saffron’s price behavior in these provinces has been investigated. First Johanson Co-integration and Engel-Granger test have been used to investigate long-run relation between monthly saffron’s prices from 2006- 2011. Then, threshold Co-integration test has been used to examine whether price transmission is symmetric or asymmetric. Plus, Threshold Vector Error Correction model has been used to analysis short-run adjustment in saffron market in these provinces. Main results showed that saffron price transmission in Razavi, north and south khorasan is symmetric. The results show that the market price support policies can be helpful in the three provinces of saffron.
Agriculture
Saeid Kamyabi; Majid Habibi Nokhandan; Ahmadreza Rouhi
Abstract
The present paper aimed to determine the criteria for understanding climate and ranking factors influencing saffron and assess its impact on Roshtkhoar city of Khorasan Razavi province. The city of Roshtkhar has potential for increasing saffron cultivation; therefore, the main hypothesis during the research ...
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The present paper aimed to determine the criteria for understanding climate and ranking factors influencing saffron and assess its impact on Roshtkhoar city of Khorasan Razavi province. The city of Roshtkhar has potential for increasing saffron cultivation; therefore, the main hypothesis during the research was, which climatic factors had the most influence on the cultivation of saffron in the city Roshtkhar. The research methodology was based on a period of ten years cross-sectional data collected from meteorological stations in the studied area. In this study, with taking into account of climatic factors affecting the cultivation of saffron, Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method was used to prioritize rural and regional municipalities Roshtkhar cultivated land. Research process included data collection, analysis, statistical analysis, data entry software Expert choice, clustering and selection criteria, and integrating information. The results showed that, among environmental factors, precipitation index (0.281) and temperature coefficient (0.137) had the greatest impact in saffron cultivation. Water resources and evaporation of water had the lowest score in the survey accounted. In the municipalities of the city, Hossein-Abad districts had favorable conditions for growing saffron.
Agriculture
Nasim Rezvani; Ali Sorooshzadeh
Abstract
Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is cultivated as spices, medicinal and aromatic plant species. At autumn season, heavy rainfall can cause flooding stress and inhibits growth of saffron. Thus this research was conducted to study the effect of silver ion (as an ethylene inhibitor) on growth of saffron under ...
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Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is cultivated as spices, medicinal and aromatic plant species. At autumn season, heavy rainfall can cause flooding stress and inhibits growth of saffron. Thus this research was conducted to study the effect of silver ion (as an ethylene inhibitor) on growth of saffron under flooding conditions. The corms of saffron were soaked with one concentration of nano silver (0, 40, 80 or 120 ppm) and then planting under flooding stress and non flooding stress conditions. Results showed that number of roots, root length, root fresh and dry weight, leaves fresh and dry weight were reduced by 10 day flooding stress. Soaking saffron corms with 40 or 80 ppm concentration of nano silver rewarded the effect of flooding stress on the root number, by increasing it. Furthermore, 40 ppm of nano silver increased root length in stress. Nano silver 80 ppm in flooding stress, increased leaves dry weight.
Pharmaceutical and Medical Science and Technology
B. Marjan Razavi; Mohsen Imenshahidi; Khalil Abnous; Hossein Hosseinzadeh
Abstract
(Crocus sativus L.) Commonly known as saffron, is a perennial stem less herb of the iridaceae family, widely cultivated in Iran and other countries. It is used as a flavoring and coloring agent for many thousands of years. In traditional medicine, saffron has been used for various purposes including ...
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(Crocus sativus L.) Commonly known as saffron, is a perennial stem less herb of the iridaceae family, widely cultivated in Iran and other countries. It is used as a flavoring and coloring agent for many thousands of years. In traditional medicine, saffron has been used for various purposes including abortion, as a fever reducer, an analgesic, expectorant, antispasmodic, aphrodisiac, sedative, digestive and a carminative. Various pharmacological studies have been described that saffron and its constituents exhibit different beneficial properties, including antioxidant, anticancer, anticonvulsant, antiischemic, antigenotoxic, antidote, antiapoptotic, antitussive, antidepressive, sedative and hypnotic, hypolipidemic, antinociceptive and antiinflammatory effects. Research projects have also revealed that saffron also exhibits protective effects against cardiovascular diseases including cardiac ischemia, arrhythmia, hypertension and atherosclerosis. In this review article, the effects of saffron and its active constituents on cardiovascular system were introduced.
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.
Biotechnology and genetics
Akbar Tavakkoli; Ali Sorooshzade; Majid Ghorbani Javid
Abstract
The objectives of this research were investigated the effects of removal of lateral and main buds in different corm size on vegetative traits and yield of saffron. The research was conducted as factorial based on a randomized complete block design with three replications at the Research field of Faculty ...
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The objectives of this research were investigated the effects of removal of lateral and main buds in different corm size on vegetative traits and yield of saffron. The research was conducted as factorial based on a randomized complete block design with three replications at the Research field of Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University in Tehran-Iran, during growing season of 2012-2013. The first factor was corm size with two levels of corm weight (2-4 and 6-8 g) and the second factor was buds removal with nine levels included without bud removal, remove all lateral buds, remove all buds except main buds and one lateral bud, remove all buds except main buds and two lateral buds, remove all buds except main buds and three lateral buds, remove all buds except one lateral bud, remove all buds except two lateral buds, remove all buds except three lateral buds, remove all buds except four lateral buds. In this research, vegetative traits in the first year and reproductive traits in the second year were investigated. The results showed that by removing main bud from corm leaf length and root length were decreased. Also, there was most root length by removing all lateral buds. Overall, the results showed that bud removal could be produce large corm but main bud should not eliminated. The most appropriate the number of buds that could be remaining is 4 large buds on saffron corm.
Agriculture
Alireza Koocheki
Abstract
Saffron has strong ties with the economic, social, environmental and political aspects of agriculture in the country with particular impact on the local communities of the growing area. The role of Iranian farmers in domestication and cultural development of saffron has been clearly demonstrated in the ...
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Saffron has strong ties with the economic, social, environmental and political aspects of agriculture in the country with particular impact on the local communities of the growing area. The role of Iranian farmers in domestication and cultural development of saffron has been clearly demonstrated in the international literature. However, the past scientific achievement of the Iranian scientists on the agronomic attributes of saffron seems to be insufficient with regards to the importance of this crop and the expectation of international scientific bodies. In this review an attempt has been made to look at the past agronomic research status and find a trend for the present and a prospect for the future. On this bases although the history of conventional research in Iran on saffron goes back to seven decades ago a dormant period of almost 40 years up to the 1960s is evidenced. Basically in the 60s the pioneer researchers from Khorasan founded the conventional research on basic agronomic aspects and in the later stages with establishment of organization such as Organization for Scientific and Industrial Research (Khorasan branch) and expansion of graduate studies in the universities, research activities was progressed. These activities gained a momentum in the last two decades particularly in recent years due to establishment of different public and private organizations associated with saffron such as National Saffron Council, permanent secretariat for saffron festival, organizing various seminars and conferences, establishment of research group for saffron in a University, establishment of saffron focal point for science and industry, establishment of saffron institute and publication of two specialized scientific Journal on saffron. Based on these achievements it is hoped to enhance the conventional research topics and shift them towards a holistic and comprehensive approaches for novel research on the subjects such as production under controlled environment, evaluation of yield gaps, growth and development modeling, crop physiology and ecology and impacts of climate change on saffron expansion area etc. This could be fulfilled by transferring the findings to the fields and presenting the results to the world scientific societies by publishing in international Journals.
Agriculture
S. A. Mohammad Alavi Zadeh; Ali Monazzam Esmaeel Pour; Mahmoud Hossein Zadeh Kermani
Abstract
Saffron as the most expensive agriculture and medicinal product of world, is a plant in Consider to aridity resistant has interesting role in social and economical status of arid and semi arid of southern and Razavi Khorasan provinces. The aim of this paper, is determining the suitable area in Saffron ...
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Saffron as the most expensive agriculture and medicinal product of world, is a plant in Consider to aridity resistant has interesting role in social and economical status of arid and semi arid of southern and Razavi Khorasan provinces. The aim of this paper, is determining the suitable area in Saffron cultivation with regards to effective factors. The climatic elements data were obtain from Khorasan Razavi Meteorological Organization for 1989-2012 periods. The topographic data including; relief, slope, aspect and TIN layers extracts from 1: 50000 topographic maps of the region. The land use and vegetation land cover maps were prepared using 1: 50000 maps of National soil and water Research Institute. The spatial analysis facilities of GIS were used for numerical calculation and drawing the requiring maps. A spatial geo database from region was established then spatial and description data entered on this database. Using by AHP software each layer weighted by its importance. Finally, by overlaying analysis in ArcGIS, cultivated area were classified by its capabilities .The results showed that Central and Southern Kashmar plain are the best capabilities for Saffron cultivation that in present statues, these lands specified to dry farming, irrigated farming, semi condense and condense rangelands.
