Agriculture
Amir Mohammad Zargarian; Faezeh Zaefarian; abbas jalali; Vahid Akbarpour
Abstract
This research was conducted with the aim of investigating the effect of cover crop on the density and biomass of weeds in a saffron field in the form of a randomized complete block design with three replications located in Neka in 2022. The experimental treatments applied in the saffron farm was include: ...
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This research was conducted with the aim of investigating the effect of cover crop on the density and biomass of weeds in a saffron field in the form of a randomized complete block design with three replications located in Neka in 2022. The experimental treatments applied in the saffron farm was include: cover crop planting of Persian clover (Trifolium resupinatum), barley (Hordeum vulgare), fenugreek (Trigonella foenum - graecum L.), rapeseed (Brassica napus), treatment of no weed control with cover crop (control 1) and weeds control with no cover crop (control 2). The measured traits included the density and biomass of broad-leaved and narrow-leaved weeds, the dominant weed density in the field, Shannon-Wiener species diversity index and the performance indicators of saffron corm that were measured including the number of daughter corm, total daughter corm yield, average daughter corm weight, corm average diameter and corm yield in different weight groups per square meter. The results showed that barley cover crop cultivation treatment has the lowest density and biomass of broad-leaved and narrow-leaved weeds among the treatments, so that its cultivation caused a decrement of 96 and 88% of the biomass of broad-leaved and narrow-leaved weeds, respectively. In addition, among cover crops, the highest species diversity related to canola and the lowest one related to barley are 0.93 and 0.43, respectively. With the comparison among the cover crops, the highest total yield of daughter corm belonged to canola, clover, fenugreek and then barley were 1273.9, 1243, 1234.8 and 1175.2 g/m2, and the highest total corm yield, average corm weight and corm yield above 8 g was obtained with canola cover crop cultivation, which showed an increase of 6, 79 and 14%, respectively, compared to the control with no weeding. In general, although the weeding treatment as well as the saffron corm yield indicators were superior to other treatments, but this point should be notice that with the planting of cover plants, along with the stability and fertility of the system in the long term, there is a higher economic advantage, ultimately brings benefits to the farmer.
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
Elham Azizi; Leila Tabrizi
Abstract
According to the growth period of saffron, intercropping of this plant with species with similar needs can be a suitable option for better land use, provided that the allelopathy of this plant is considered. In order to investigate the allelopathic effect of saffron on quantitative and qualitative traits ...
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According to the growth period of saffron, intercropping of this plant with species with similar needs can be a suitable option for better land use, provided that the allelopathy of this plant is considered. In order to investigate the allelopathic effect of saffron on quantitative and qualitative traits of some of medicinal plants, an experiment was conducted under greenhouse condition in ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran. Treatments were combination of 4 species (Thymus vulgaris, Zataria multiflora, Ziziphora clinopodioides and Teucrium polium and corm and leaf extracts in four levels (0, 3000, 6000, 9000 ppm) arranged in a completely randomized design with four replications. Measured parameters were fresh and dry weight of root and shoot, shoot to root ratio, stomatal resistance, SPAD reading and essential oil percentage and yield. Result indicated that interaction of corm and leaf extract concentrations affected fresh weight of root and SPAD reading. Four species showed different trends in different extract concentrations. In Thymus vulgaris and Zataria multiflora, with increasing extract concentration, stomatal resistance initially increased and then decreased but other species, other species did n’t follow this trend. In total species, with increasing extract concentration, SPAD reading, initially increased and then decreased. In all species studied, except Thymus vulgaris, as extract concentration increased shoot to root ratio increased. Also, with extract concentrations, essential oil percentage decreased. In general, in all investigated species, the physiological and qualitative traits of the plant decreased with the use of saffron leaf and corm extracts.
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
Seyed Mohammad Moosavipoor; Hassan Feizi; hossein sahabi; Hamid-reza Fallahi
Abstract
Recognizing the potential role of seaweed in improving saffron yield and the utilization of micronutrient elements like Ca, Mg, Fe, and Mn to enhance stigma yield, an experiment was conducted. The study investigated the impact of foliar spraying of seaweed extract and selected nutritional elements on ...
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Recognizing the potential role of seaweed in improving saffron yield and the utilization of micronutrient elements like Ca, Mg, Fe, and Mn to enhance stigma yield, an experiment was conducted. The study investigated the impact of foliar spraying of seaweed extract and selected nutritional elements on saffron's quantitative and qualitative traits of saffron.This research was conducted, as factorial based on a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications during 2021-2022 in Neishabur, Iran. The first factor consisted of seaweed extract (0 and 2 L.ha-1) and the second factor consisted of foliar application of nutrients including no foliar application (as control), and the defender of some elements including iron (1.5 L.ha-1 containing Fe, N, and amino acids), zinc, boron (1 L.ha-1 containing B and amino acids), manganese (1.5 L.ha-1 containing Mn, Zn and S), magnesium and calcium (2 L.ha-1 containing Ca and N). The use of all nutrients compared to the control (no-nutrients) and the use of seaweed extract compared to no-seaweed application caused an increase in flower and stigma yields. Based on the interaction effects of the experimental factors, the highest number of flowers (68.8 No.m-2) was obtained in the combined application of manganese and seaweed extract, the highest flower yield (33.5 g.m-2) was gained with the combined application of seaweed and boron, and the highest dry stigma yield (0.48 g.m-2) was obtained from the simultaneous application of magnesium and seaweed extract, which were 63.8, 16.7 and 17.0%, more than the control treatment (no-seaweed & No-nutrients), respectively. Without nutrient application, the utilization of seaweed extract resulted in a notable rise in the Picrocrocin content of the stigma by 15.9%, Crocin by 9.5%, and Safranal by 10.6% compared to the absence of seaweed application.Combined consumption of calcium with seaweed increased the content of Picrocrocin and Crocin, while simultaneous application of other nutrients with seaweed did not improve these indices. The highest and the lowest content of Safranal (37.7 and 32.35 absorption at 330 nm) were obtained from magnesium + no-seaweed and control (no-seaweed & no-nutrients) treatments, respectively. Overall, although all of the studied elements combined with seaweed extract improved stigma yield in order to increase stigma yield, application of Mg in combination to seaweed recommended and to enhance saffron quality using seaweed suggested.
Agriculture
Nima Khaledi; Mahdi Rezaei; Mojtaba Alizadeh Farddarabad
Abstract
Fusarium rot disease is one of the most important fungal diseases of saffron corms worldwide, which can lead to a decrease in product yield and the quality of daughter corms produced. The objective of this study was to isolate and identify agents responsible for Fusarium corm rot in saffron, as well ...
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Fusarium rot disease is one of the most important fungal diseases of saffron corms worldwide, which can lead to a decrease in product yield and the quality of daughter corms produced. The objective of this study was to isolate and identify agents responsible for Fusarium corm rot in saffron, as well as to assess their pathogenicity. In order to determine the Fusarium species from saffron corms with rotting symptoms were sampled from the different fields in provinces of Hamadan, Golestan, Kerman, Kurdistan, Semnan, Kermanshah, Ardabil, East Azerbaijan, North Khorasan, Razavi Khorasan, Isfahan, and South Khorasan. After isolation and purification, fungal isolates were identified and confirmed based on morphological characteristics and species-specific primers. Also, the pathogenicity of the isolates was artificially tested in the greenhouse on saffron corms according to Koch’s principles. The results indicated that approximately 38.6% of the saffron corms were infected with fusarium rot disease in the 1 to 5% range. 33 isolates were identified based on morphological and molecular characteristics belonging to F. oxysporum (26 isolates, 78.8%) and F. solani sensu lato (7 isolates, 21.2%). The pathogenicity tests revealed that all Fusarium isolates were pathogenic, displaying varying levels of disease index.The result of the host range test of F. oxysporum on different plants revealed that all isolates caused wilting and yellowing of aerial organs, necrosis and rotting of underground organs on Gladiolus (Gladiolus communis L.), Irises (Iris germanica L.) and Crocus (Crocus vernus L.) and was called as F. oxysporum f. sp. gladioli. This is the first report on identification of F. oxysporum f. sp. gladioli from saffron fields in Malayer, Bijar, Kangavar, Parsabad, Marand, Natanz, Najafabad and f F. solani sensu lato from saffron fields in Azadshahr, Shirvan, Esfarayen, Kashmar, Najafabad, Boshruyeh on saffron corms. The findings of this research provide new insights into the health status of saffron corm against fusarium rot disease, which can be used for the revision of the national standard for saffron corms and determining suitable areas for certified corm production of saffron.
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
Nasim Rezvani; Majid Pouryousef; Afshin Tavakoli
Abstract
Saffron, a cherished native plant of Iran, holds immense value, and its optimal growth and development hinge on the precise administration of nutrients and growth regulators. However, scant information exists concerning the nutritional attributes and the impacts of external application of growth regulators ...
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Saffron, a cherished native plant of Iran, holds immense value, and its optimal growth and development hinge on the precise administration of nutrients and growth regulators. However, scant information exists concerning the nutritional attributes and the impacts of external application of growth regulators on its overall performance. This study intends to scrutinize the influence of varying concentrations of forchlorfenuron and potassium nitrate on the attributes of daughter corms as well as the ultimate saffron yield. Through this investigation, a deeper understanding of the relationship between growth regulators, nutrients, and saffron production can be attained, shedding light on the potential avenues for enhancing its cultivation and yield. This experiment was conducted as a factorial based on a randomized complete block design in the research farm of Zanjan University. According to the results, the interaction effect of forchlorfenoren 2.5 and 5 mg.liter-1 and potassium nitrate 500 mg.liter-1 decreased the number of daughter corms. Characteristics such as the weight of daughter corms of more than 7 grams per square meter, corm diameter, number of flowers per square meter, and the amount of safranal, crocin, and picrocrocin showed a significant increase due to the interaction of forchlorfenoren 5 mg.liter-1 and potassium nitrate 1000 mg.liter-1. The highest wet and dry weight of the stigma was 11.49 and 1.15 grams per square meter, respectively, with the treatment of furchlorfenoren at the level of 5 mg.liter-1. Also, the use of potassium nitrate at the level of 1000 mg.liter-1 increased the fresh and dry weight of the stigma by 10.22 and 1.01 grams per square meter, respectively. The maximum stigma length was obtained in treating furchlorfenoren 10 mg.liter-1 and potassium nitrate 250 mg.liter-1. Based on the outcomes derived from foliar application experiments, it is advisable to consider utilizing a concentration of 5 mg.liter-1 for forchlorfenuron and 1000 mg.liter-1 for potassium nitrate during the period extending from March to April. This recommendation holds under the premise that environmental conditions are conducive, encompassing factors such as favorable temperatures for foliar spraying. This practice is particularly relevant to the climatic conditions prevalent in the Zanjan region.
Agriculture
Fariba Niroomandfad; Abbas Khashei Siuki; Seyed Reza Hashemi; Khalil Ghorbani
Abstract
Investigating and identifying the actual amount of water used for different agricultural products is of particular importance, and considering such evaluations, appropriate solutions can be provided to reduce agricultural water consumption, which is of great importance. The water footprint index as a ...
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Investigating and identifying the actual amount of water used for different agricultural products is of particular importance, and considering such evaluations, appropriate solutions can be provided to reduce agricultural water consumption, which is of great importance. The water footprint index as a global index shows the actual amount of water consumed by products based on the conditions and climate of each region. On the other hand, the phenomenon of climate change is one of the most important environmental challenges that has a significant impact on water resources. Therefore, it is important and necessary to evaluate this phenomenon in order to predict its impact on water consumption in the agricultural sector. In this research, the simulation of climate parameters using the MIROCES2L model of the 6th Report of the General Oceanic Atmospheric Circulation under three scenarios SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, and SSP5-8.5 in Birjand plain has been done and then using those results to calculate the footprint prediction The blue water and green water traces of the strategic product of saffron were carried out in the Birjand Plain region. The results of the first part showed that the minimum temperature and maximum temperature in all three scenarios in the future (2050-2022) generally increased and the precipitation parameter increased in autumn and winter and decreased in spring and summer. In the second part, the prediction of saffron crop performance by NIO model showed that under three scenarios SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 in the future (2022-2038) on average 0.13, 0.21 respectively and 0.05 kg/ha has decreased compared to the observation period (2005-2021) and the results showed that with the increase in water demand in the future period, the water footprint, the green water footprint and the total water footprint of the saffron crop under the influence of climate change In the future period, it has increased by almost 2 times compared to the observation period. Also, the ratio of blue water consumption to green water in this product has increased in the future under all three scenarios compared to the observation period from 1.91 to 2.04. Therefore, despite the phenomenon of climate change, increase in temperature, increase in water demand, and finally increase in the footprint of water consumption in surface and underground water sources in the Birjand plain in the coming years, it is necessary to implement a suitable model of water consumption in the plain and To use appropriate and effective solutions to reduce the water footprint in the study area, the methods of reducing the area under cultivation, less irrigation, changing the cultivation pattern and changing the agricultural calendar should also be proposed and implemented.
Agriculture
zahra Tavakoli; Mehdi Jahani; Hossein Hammami
Abstract
To evaluate the allelopathic and fungicidal effect of saffron leaf and corm aqueous extracts on the germination and growth characteristics of London rocket (Sisymbrium irio) and Fusarium solani, independent experiments were conducted as factorial arrangement based on the completely randomized design ...
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To evaluate the allelopathic and fungicidal effect of saffron leaf and corm aqueous extracts on the germination and growth characteristics of London rocket (Sisymbrium irio) and Fusarium solani, independent experiments were conducted as factorial arrangement based on the completely randomized design with four replications at the Faculty of Agriculture of Birjand University in 2022. Treatments to test the inhibitory effect of saffron extract on London rocket seed germination characteristics including two types of saffron organs (leaf and corm) and seven extract concentrations (0, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, and 4 w/v %). Experimental treatments to investigate the inhibitory effect of saffron extract on the growth of Fusarium solani fungus including two types of saffron organs (leaf and corm) and seven extract concentrations (0, 1, 0.5, 25. 0, 0.125, 0.625, and 0.0312 w/v %). The results showed that the type of extract has an effect on the germination percentage, germination rate, mean germination time, length and fresh and dry weight of radicle, the length, fresh and dry weight of the plumule, seedling dry weight, and the seedling vigor of London rocket were significant, and the corm extract had more negative effects compared to the leaf extract. As the extract concentration increased, its inhibitory effect also increased. The extract concentration of 4% significantly reduced the radicle length and fresh and dry weight, the plumule length and fresh and dry weight, seedling dry weight, and seedling vigor of London rocket compared to the control. The results of the interaction showed that the lowest percentage of germination, germination rate, radicle length and fresh and dry weight, plumule fresh and dry weight and seedling dry weight of london rocket were observed at the concentration of 4 % corm extract. The results of the interaction effect of extract type and extract concentrations on Fusarium solani colony diameter showed that all the concentrations of corm extract inhibited the growth of Fusarium solani in all four stages of sampling. In leaf extract, concentrations of 0.125, 0.25, 0.5 and 1% completely inhibited the growth of Fusarium solani in all four stages of sampling. Finally, the results of these experiments showed that the effect of inhibiting the germination and growth of london rocket as well as the antifungal effect is greater in saffron corm extract than the leaf extract. Therefore, considering the results of this research and conducting more research in the field of allelopathic and fungicidal effects of saffron organ extracts, we can proceed to produce natural herbicides and fungicides.
Agriculture
Hossein Sahabi; Fatemeh Moallem Banhangi; Ali Bagheri
Abstract
Monitoring of yield indicators, such as evaluating the trend and yield stability, can open the way for future policies and decisions in order to maintain and improve the yield of important agricultural products in Iran's agricultural systems. The aim of this study was to investigate and establish the ...
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Monitoring of yield indicators, such as evaluating the trend and yield stability, can open the way for future policies and decisions in order to maintain and improve the yield of important agricultural products in Iran's agricultural systems. The aim of this study was to investigate and establish the stability of saffron yield in selected cities of Khorasan-Razavi province during the years 1400-1401 was conducted at Torbat Heydarieh University. To achieve this objective, data regarding saffron cultivation area and yield from various cities in Khorasan-Razavi Province were gathered from available statistics published by the Ministry of Agriculture Jihad, Iran, over 34 years (1365-1399). Following data validation, five cities – namely Torbat Heydarieh, Neishabur, Kashmir, Gonabad, and Taibad – were chosen based on the availability of comprehensive statistics. Additional information was then collated through questionnaires and forms by liaising with the agricultural jihad and research centers in each city. Utilizing regression analysis, this research delved into the long-term trends of yield and cultivated area, exploring relative and absolute yield residuals and investigating coefficients of yield changes. The study unveiled that the cultivated saffron area expanded across all surveyed cities until 2007-2008. However, in the latter years of the study, specifically in cities with high average saffron yield, such as Gonabad and Torbat Heydarieh, a marked decline in cultivated area was observed. Over the past 34 years, a notable decline in saffron yield has been observed in Torbat Heydarieh, Gonabad, and Kashmar. Notably, Gonabad, which had the highest average yield over this period, experienced the most substantial decrease in yield, amounting to 0.09 kg per hectare per year. Unfortunately, the degree of yield stability in the saffron cultivation ecosystems of the studied cities was not favorable. In particular, the relative residual yield across different cities ranged from 0.01% to 159.1%, indicating significant instability in saffron cultivation ecosystems within Khorasan Razavi province. The coefficient of variation of yield trends exhibited a decline in all surveyed cities except. The average rate of change in these cities was computed to be very low at -0.005% per year, implying that the enhancement of yield stability in these regions was occurring at a notably sluggish pace.
Agriculture
Elham Azizi; Shahin Farabi
Abstract
Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) has been used as food and medicine for Iranians for a long time, from the ancient to the modern period, and several factors have influenced its production and consumption in different provinces, especially Razavi Khorasan. In order to investigate the trend of cultivated area, ...
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Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) has been used as food and medicine for Iranians for a long time, from the ancient to the modern period, and several factors have influenced its production and consumption in different provinces, especially Razavi Khorasan. In order to investigate the trend of cultivated area, stigma production and yield of saffron and also the effect of climatic parameters such as altitude above sea level, average temperature, and precipitation on the cultivation and production of this plant in different cities of Khorasan Razavi Province, a study was conducted by using data of Agricultural Jihad Organization during 1984 to 2020. Results indicated that the highest production and cultivated area in the province of Razavi Khorasan in the studied period were related to Zaveh, Torbat Heydarieh, and Roshtkhar, respectively. Zaveh and Torbat Heydarieh also had the largest portion of irrigated production in the province, with 13.3 and 9.4 %, respectively. Upon comparing the yield of saffron across different cities to the provincial average, it became evident that Gonabad and Torbat Heydarieh secured the first and second positions, respectively, in this comparison. Conversely, Kalat exhibited the lowest percentage in terms of cultivated area, irrigated production, and yield ratio compared to the provincial average. Further analysis revealed that elevation above sea level is positively correlated with both cultivated area and saffron production. Interestingly, there exists a non-linear inverse relationship between annual rainfall and cultivated area, production, and yield of saffron. Moreover, the study found that higher average temperatures are associated with increased saffron production, although the average yield of saffron tends to decrease. Regarding similarities across different cities in Khorasan-Razavi province, an investigation at a 75% similarity threshold indicated the possibility of classifying the province's various regions into five distinct clusters. The cities of Bakharz, Gonabad, Kashmer, Mahvalat, and Roshtkhar were in the first cluster, and the cities of Bajastan, Khaf, Torbat Jam, Neishabur, Bardaskan, and Taibad were in the second cluster, and each of the cities of Torbat Heydarieh and Zaveh also formed two separate branches. The rest of the cities were placed in a cluster. In general, the increasing trend of saffron cultivation and production in Khorasan-Razavi province indicates a greater desire to cultivate this plant by the farmers, considering the climatic and soil conditions of this province.
Agriculture
Ahmad Jafarzadeh; Abbas Khashei Siuki; Ali Shahidi
Abstract
Ensemble modelling is expanding in several areas of engineering, especially different aspects of water engineering. Accurate estimation of saffron water requirement (SWR), an essential strategic production of the agriculture sector, is a crucial and influencing act in local water planning of this region. ...
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Ensemble modelling is expanding in several areas of engineering, especially different aspects of water engineering. Accurate estimation of saffron water requirement (SWR), an essential strategic production of the agriculture sector, is a crucial and influencing act in local water planning of this region. Hence, this study aimed to check the applicability of ensemble modelling in enhancing SWR at Birjand, Southern Khorasan, Iran. The actual water requirement of saffron was recorded in the field lysimetric laboratory at the University of Birjand. The simulation of water requirement was conducted utilizing Decision Tree Regression (DTR) with input climate features. Additionally, Boosting and Bagging methods were employed to establish and enhance the ensemble process of soil water requirement (SWR) simulations. To track the effectiveness of any method, some comparative tests were designed, such as statistical criteria (RMSE and MAE) detection, Violin plot analysis, over/underestimation, times series comparison, and error improvement test. Results indicated that although the acceptable performance of DTR in simulating SWR, the probable improvement was potentially felt. Derived results confirmed that supervised ensemble modelling (Boosting) could enhance the accuracy of DTR by more than 30 percent (reducing absolute error from 36 mm to 23.65 mm), resulting in declining RMSE from 0.44 mm to 0.07 mm. Further, different experiment outcomes revealed that the Boosting algorithm quality is more appealing than DTR and Bagging outputs.
Agriculture
Mohammad Nateq Golestan; Arash Honarmand
Abstract
Saffron or red gold is a strategic agricultural product with a very high non-oil export potential. Considering the ban on the use of synthetic chemical poisons against saffron pests and the growing trend of planting this product in the country, as well as the importance of producing certified seeds of ...
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Saffron or red gold is a strategic agricultural product with a very high non-oil export potential. Considering the ban on the use of synthetic chemical poisons against saffron pests and the growing trend of planting this product in the country, as well as the importance of producing certified seeds of agricultural products, it is inevitable to find non-chemical ways to control the pest and produce certified saffron onions. Meanwhile, the saffron mite Rhizoglyphus robini Claparède is one of the most important pests of saffron, which causes great damage to onions and saffron crops every year. In the present study, the toxicity of four plant essential oils from the Asteraceae family, including Artemisia sieberi Besser, Acroptilon repens (L.), Cichorium intybus L. and Achillea millefolium L., was evaluated on the adult female species of the saffron mite in laboratory conditions. Bioassay was performed by fumigation method inside a 5 cm petri dish in total darkness, with a relative humidity of 70% and a temperature of 26 degrees for 24 hours. For each essential oil, 6 concentrations and 3 repetitions were considered for each concentration. The results of the bioassay by fumigation method showed that the essential oil of A.sieberiwith LC50 = 160.09 ppm has the highest and C. intybus essential oil with LC50 = 440.12 ppm has the lowest toxicity on saffron bulb mite. Also, the highest concentration slope was observed in A. repens essential oil (5.801±0.719) and the lowest was observed in the essential oil of A. sieberi and A. millefolium. Based on the starting point of toxicity, the essential oil of A. sieberiwith the highest intercept (-2.177±0.323) caused the fastest initial toxicity on bulb mite at a concentration of 33.21 ppm.
Agriculture
Azam Rezaee; Morteza Yaqubi
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the impact of climate change on saffron land rents in Khorasan Razavi province. To achieve this goal, relevant data and statistics were gathered from the National Meteorological Organization and the Agricultural Jihad Organization of Khorasan Razavi province between 2011-2020. ...
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This study aimed to investigate the impact of climate change on saffron land rents in Khorasan Razavi province. To achieve this goal, relevant data and statistics were gathered from the National Meteorological Organization and the Agricultural Jihad Organization of Khorasan Razavi province between 2011-2020. In doing so, panel data of the Ricardian technique was employed. The net present value of land rent was subsequently calculated. Considering three climate change scenarios, A1, B1, and AB (pessimistic, optimistic, and intermediate) till 2100 of IPCC, the ultimate effect of climate change on saffron land rents in Khorasan Razavi province was predicted. The results indicated that all of the cities in Khorasan Razavi province had positive saffron land rents throughout the study period. Torbat-e-Jam had the highest value of saffron land rent with 535,079,456 Tomans, while Kashmar and Roshtkhar had the lowest value with 160,079,456 Tomans. Moreover, the trend of changes in land rents is positive in some cities and negative in others. Bajestan, Torbat-e-Jam, Jooybar, and Khoshab have an increasing trend in the value of saffron land rent. In addition, the trend of land rent in Bakharz, Taybad, Bardaskan, Torbat Heydariyeh, Joghatai, Chenaran, Khalilabad, and Khaf is decreasing. Based on a fixed effects model, the average annual temperature, cumulative precipitation, and maximum average temperature have a positive and significant effect. In contrast, the interactive effect of temperature, precipitation and minimum average temperature negatively and significantly affect saffron land rents. Considering climate scenarios until 2025, land rent will decrease by 11.0% per hectare. Moreover, changes in land rent caused by temperature and precipitation climate scenarios until 2100 are estimated to be 326.0%. Considering the average land rent and the total saffron cultivation area in Khorasan Razavi province, we will have a decrease of 7.93 billion Tomans in land rent. Given the inevitability of climate change, evaluating its effects can be effective in managing this phenomenon.
Agriculture
Mahmoud Gholami; Mohammad Kafi; Hamid reza Khazaie; Hossein Abarghouei
Abstract
In order to study competition response among saffron corms, a split plot experiment was conducted on the basis of complete randomized block design with three replications in a field in Ashkezar city of Yazd province for 3 years. The main plots were irrigation with three levels (100%, 75% and 50% of ETc) ...
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In order to study competition response among saffron corms, a split plot experiment was conducted on the basis of complete randomized block design with three replications in a field in Ashkezar city of Yazd province for 3 years. The main plots were irrigation with three levels (100%, 75% and 50% of ETc) and the sub plots were fertilization management methods including control (without any fertilizer or manure), applying 10 t ha-1 cow manure, 10 t ha-1 vermicompost both by spreading, 10 t ha-1 or 5 t ha-1vermicompost buried under planting corm rows, 10 l ha-1 Humaster Saffron fertilizer for 1 or 2 times after flowering during irrigation. Results showed that under moderate water stress in comparison with control, total corm number and total corm weight per plant was declined more than 30% and 17% respectively. But average corm weight was enhanced by 12%. Total effective corm weight and total effective corm number were declined more than 50% under strict water stress in comparison with control. During 3 experimental years, total effective corm number, total effective corm weight, total corm number and total corm weight were increased by 189%, 205%, 470% and 263% respectively while average corm weight, effective corm weight ratio and effective corm number ratio were declined by 38%, 17% and 48% respectively. In summary, results showed that increasing in corm weight per plants during experimental years were mostly as a result of increasing in corm numbers. Although, big corms per small corms were decreased year by year as a result of competition among corms. Under moderate stress water, saffron plant grew up each corm weight in comparison with increasing corm number per plant while under strict water stress allocated assimilates among more corms and increases corm numbers per plant.
Agriculture
Hamid-reza Fallahi; Alijan Salariyan
Abstract
This descriptive research was conducted as interviews using 125 questionnaires among the saffron farmers of Torbat-Heydariyeh, Iran, during 2020-2021. The aim of this study was to compare the most important agronomic operations related to saffron cultivation among three groups of farmers (ordinary, skilled ...
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This descriptive research was conducted as interviews using 125 questionnaires among the saffron farmers of Torbat-Heydariyeh, Iran, during 2020-2021. The aim of this study was to compare the most important agronomic operations related to saffron cultivation among three groups of farmers (ordinary, skilled and leading farmers), and to compare the methods used by the farmers with the recommendations of saffron researchers. The classification of farmers into the three mentioned groups was based on the stigma yield in relation to the field age. Before the research, the validity of the questionnaire was confirmed and its reliability was also determined using the test-retest method. The results showed that against 15% of leading farmers, none of the ordinary and skilled farmers had agricultural education. The average education of ordinary, skilled and leading farmers were 7.1, 7.5 and 10.9 years, respectively. Corm planting date of the highest number of ordinary and skilled farmers (46.2% and 35.7%, respectively) was in September, while for the leading farmers (37.5%) was in June. The average amounts of corm application by ordinary, skilled and leading farmers was 8.9, 8.9 and 10.5 ton ha-1, respectively, and the average amount recommended by researchers was 10.4 ton ha-1. All the saffron researchers recommended the corm row planting method, which is accordance with the 30, 43.1 and 44.4% procedures of ordinary, skilled and leading farmers, respectively. The minimum corm weight recommended by researchers was 8 g, which is applied by 18.7% of ordinary farmers, 25% of skilled farmers and 100% of leading farmers. Hand weeding was the most common method of weeds control among all farmers. Contrary to the recommendation of most researchers to remain saffron leaves as mulch, the leaves are mainly used as animal feed. The appropriate field age according to researcher’s recommendation was 5-6 years, while most of the farmers use the field for 7-8 years after each planting time. In general, the low level of knowledge, mass planting method (several corms in each planting point), planting of small mother corms, inappropriate planting date and long-term exploitation of the fields were the most important cases of improper field management, especially by ordinary farmers.
Agriculture
Amir Akbari; Alinaghi Ziaei; Seyed Mohammadreza Naghedifar; Parviz Rezvani Moghaddam; Mahdi Gholami Sharafkhane
Abstract
Saffron is one of the most valuable spices in the world and due to its high economic value and low water requirement, it is widely cultivated in eastern Iran. In this research, which took place in the research farm of the Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran, in 2021-2022, the AquaCrop model to simulate ...
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Saffron is one of the most valuable spices in the world and due to its high economic value and low water requirement, it is widely cultivated in eastern Iran. In this research, which took place in the research farm of the Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran, in 2021-2022, the AquaCrop model to simulate the yield of the saffron plant was calibrated and validated using field measurements. Therefore, soil moisture, biomass, and plant canopy cover area were measured with a relatively high time resolution during the growing season. Pearson's correlation coefficient, root mean square, error, index of agreement and Nash–Sutcliffe index for moisture simulation were 0.87, 7.8 mm, 0.92 and 0.62 respectively, plant biomass was 0.99, 0.3 t.ha-1, 0.99, 0.98 and also 0.98 , 5%, 0.98 and 0.93 were obtained for canopy cover . The sensitive stages of the saffron plant were determined by examining the changes in daughter corms weight, biomass, and water productivity during different stages of growth in response to water stress, and a revised scenario was proposed to improve field irrigation. By applying this scenario and running the model, the amount of daughter corms weight production increased from 5.550 to 7.693 t.ha-1 and biomass from 7.204 to 9.395 t.ha-1. The water productivity value also increased from 3.50 to 3.69 kg.m-3 and 85 mm was saved in water consumption.
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.
Agriculture
Zohreh Natavan; Rooholla Moradi; Mahdi Naghizadeh; Nasibeh Pourghasemian
Abstract
In order to study the effect of different chemical and organic mulch types on various soil characteristics and qualitative and quantitative yield of saffron (Crocus sativus L.), an experiment was conducted based on randomized complete block design with three replications at Qaen region in during 2018-2019. ...
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In order to study the effect of different chemical and organic mulch types on various soil characteristics and qualitative and quantitative yield of saffron (Crocus sativus L.), an experiment was conducted based on randomized complete block design with three replications at Qaen region in during 2018-2019. The experimental treatments were application of various mulch types for weed control (no weed control, hand weeding, transparent polyethylene, black polyethylene, beeswax waste, residues of grape leaf, wheat straw, pomegranate leaf, pistachio leaf, barley straw and saffron corm dunnage). The results showed that all the treatments except black and transparent polyethylene significantly improved the potassium contents of soil compared to hand weeding treatment. Treatments of beeswax waste (0.083%), pistachio leaf (0.081%) and transparent polyethylene (0.080%) included the highest amount of soil nitrogen. The highest amount of carbon (0.838%) and soil organic matter (1.17%) was also observed in beeswax waste mulch treatment. This treatment also led to soil acidification compared to other treatments. Application of all the mulches except transparent polyethylene caused a significant increase in stigmas yield of saffron compared to non-weeding conditions. Beeswax waste and wheat straw had the highest stigma yield (4.89 and 4.32 kg ha-1), respectively; which these increased the stigma yield by 213% and 177% compared to the no weeding treatment. Black polyethylene, pomegranate leaf and grape leaf did not show a significant difference with hand weeding in terms of stigma yield of saffron. The highest amount of safranal, crocin and picrocrocin in saffron was obtained to the black polyethylene mulch treatment. In general, the results confirmed that the application of all the studied mulches with the exception of transparent polyethylene led to improving soil characteristics and saffron yield compared to no weed control treatment and are recommended to farmers.
Agriculture
Hamid-Reza Fallahi; Alijan Salariyan
Abstract
This research was conducted using questionnaires and the analysis of soil samples (the content of organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) obtained from saffron fields of Torbat-Heydariyeh, Iran, during 2020-2021. In this research, saffron irrigation and nutrition management methods among ...
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This research was conducted using questionnaires and the analysis of soil samples (the content of organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) obtained from saffron fields of Torbat-Heydariyeh, Iran, during 2020-2021. In this research, saffron irrigation and nutrition management methods among three farmer groups (progressive farmers, skilled farmers and ordinary farmers) were investigated and compared with the recommendations of saffron researchers. The classification of farmers in the mentioned three classes was based on the stigma yield in relation to the field age. The results showed that most of the progressive and skilled farmers used the combined nutrition management method (organic fertilizer + chemical fertilizer with frequency of about 65%), while the single application of chemical fertilizer was the most common method among ordinary farmers (47.5%). The mean amount of organic manure application for ordinary, skilled and progressive farmers was 5.0, 6.3 and 10.7 ton ha-1year-1, respectively (less than the amount of 19.2 tons recommended by researchers) and the mean amount of nitrogen application was 49.5, 56.5 and 87 kg ha-1 (compared with 93.3 kg recommended by researchers). The application of phosphorus and particularly potassium was not a common practice among all three groups’ farmers. The average content of organic matter in the fields was 0.68%, nitrogen 0.041%, phosphorus 16.1ppm and potassium 292 ppm, which indicates the poverty of soils in terms of organic matter and to some extent nitrogen. The foliar application of nutrients for the fields of ordinary, skilled and progressive farmers was 0.23, 0.65 and 1.00 times per year, respectively, and the average irrigation times was 3.2, 3.6, and 4.6 times per year, respectively, which is less than the recommended values by experts (2.55 and 5.8 times per year, respectively). Summer irrigation (44.4% of farmers) and sprinkle irrigation method (26.8% of farmers) were more common among progressive farmers. In general, the poverty of organic matter and lack of nitrogen in the soil, low foliar application of nutrients and lack of use of modern irrigation methods were among the most important reasons for the high gap yield of saffron fields.
Agriculture
Elnaz Ghaffarzadeh; Noraddin Hosseinpour Azad; Ali Shahi; Olivia De Murtas
Abstract
Saffron with the scientific name (Crocus sativus L.) belongs to the Iridaceae family. This plant stigma is one of the most expensive spices in the world due to its rich apocarotenoids contents crocin (responsible for color), picrocrocin (bitter taste), and safranal (perfume). For quantitative analysis ...
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Saffron with the scientific name (Crocus sativus L.) belongs to the Iridaceae family. This plant stigma is one of the most expensive spices in the world due to its rich apocarotenoids contents crocin (responsible for color), picrocrocin (bitter taste), and safranal (perfume). For quantitative analysis of these metabolites by Spectroscopy and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC UV-Vis) in Saffron stigma biphasic extract, in purpose the aim of introducing a suitable chemotype of this plant for cultivation in Ardabil province, this study was conducted in an experimental design of randomized complete blocks with three different replications. the data analysis of variance with GenStat ver. 12.1 showed that there were significant differences (P <0.01) between the studied areas based on the apocartenoids content, and the mean comparisons with the protected Fisher test showed that among the studied areas the chemotype of Onar village in Meshginshahr city Following the quantitative pattern of apocarotenoids, has a relative dominance in comparison with other regions, and on average, the amounts of crocin, picrocrocin, and safranal in the sample volume range are 0.15±0.1, 4.9±0.11 and 1±0.2 of dry matter was measured respectively. According to the obtained data, According to the obtained data, it can be inferred that this region of Ardabil province compared to other regions of this province has the necessary potential to produce this product with high quality.
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.
Agriculture
Alireza Koocheki; Surur Khorramdel; fatemeh moallem banhangi
Abstract
Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is a sterile geophyte plant that propagates vegetatively by means of a corm formation. During each growing season, saffron propagates by daughter corms produced from the mother corm. The daughter corms are formed above the mother corm. The plant can be maintained up to 8–10 ...
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Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is a sterile geophyte plant that propagates vegetatively by means of a corm formation. During each growing season, saffron propagates by daughter corms produced from the mother corm. The daughter corms are formed above the mother corm. The plant can be maintained up to 8–10 years. In order to study the effect of corm harvesting year on daughter corm and flower yield of saffron, a four- year experiment was conducted at Research Field, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran during four growing seasons of 2015-2016, 2016-2017, 2017-2018 and 2018-2019. Treatments were four corm harvesting years that considered as one, two, three and four years aged plots. Studied traits were flower numbers per m2, fresh weight of flower per m2, dried weight of stigma per m2, number of daughter corms per m2, dried weight of daughter corms, daughter corm diameter and number and weight of daughter corms in five weight groups such as <4, 4-8, 8-12, 12-16 and >16 g. Based on the results, the highest production gains in flower numbers (67.1 flowers per m2), flower fresh weight (32.31 g.m-2) and stigma dried weight (0.761 g.m-2) were observed in the second harvesting year. Also, the maximum daughter corm number and daughter corm yield were recorded for the third harvesting year with 189.5 corms.m-2 and 603.91 g.m-2, respectively. Although the progeny corm number continued to rise each year, at the third generation corm production was dominated by corms below 12 g and this suggests a need to lift the corms and replanting at the beginning of the fourth year.
Agriculture
Basir Atarodi; Hamidreza Zabihi; Mehdi Zangiabadi
Abstract
Balanced nutrition is one of the most important methods to increase the quantity and quality of agricultural products such as saffron. Optimal application of fertilizer and impose the balance between nutrients is very important; achieving it requires a proper assessment of plant needs. Because the leaf ...
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Balanced nutrition is one of the most important methods to increase the quantity and quality of agricultural products such as saffron. Optimal application of fertilizer and impose the balance between nutrients is very important; achieving it requires a proper assessment of plant needs. Because the leaf is the main and most important tissue of plant metabolism so decomposition of its nutrients and interpretation of the results according to standard methods can provide complete information about the nutritional status of the plant, and can also be used to determine the order of nutrient requirements and fertilizer priority of the fields. In the present study, in order to investigate the nutritional status of saffron in South Khorasan province, leaf samples were collected from 23 farms and analysed for determining the macro and micronutrients concentration. Using nutrients concentration in high yielding fields, reference concentration (Cref ) was obtained for N, P and K nutrients 2.94, 0.25 and 1.22 percent respectively. As well as Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu Cref was 215.17, 27.21, 21.30 and 7.27 mg/kg respectively. After obtaining the reference concentration, the DOP value was calculated and based on that, the order of nutrient requirements was determined. The results showed that the absolute value of DOP for all nutrients studied was more than zero, in the other words, there was a nutritional imbalance in all fields. In more than 95% of cases, the nutritional imbalance was due to nutrient deficiencies, although in a few cases, the nutritional imbalance was also related to the excess of nutrients. Based on the indices of deviation from optimum percentage, among macronutrients potassium in 70% of the studied farms and among the micronutrients, manganese in 60%, and iron in 30% of the farms, had highest negative indices. Overall and based on the results of this study, it can be recommended that in saffron farms of South Khorasan province, the use of fertilizers containing potassium, iron and manganese should be given priority.
