Saffron Agronomy and Technology

Saffron Agronomy and Technology

Evaluating the effect of bio-fertilizers containing element-fixing bacteria on saffron production under drought stress conditions.

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
1 1- Assistant Professor, Department of Optimization of Production and Processing of South Khorasan's Indigenous Medicinal Plants, ACECR of Southern Khorasan Province, Birjand, Iran
2 MSc. of plant biology, Medicinal Plants Research Complex, ACECR of Southern Khorasan Province, Birjand, Iran.
3 Professor,Saffron Research Group, University of Birjand, Iran
4 4- Ph.D. candidate of food industry, Department of Optimization of Production and Processing of South Khorasan's Indigenous Medicinal Plants, ACECR of Southern Khorasan Province, Birjand, Iran.
5 5- Ph.D. of food industry, Department of Optimization of Production and Processing of South Khorasan's Indigenous Medicinal Plants, ACECR of Southern Khorasan Province, Birjand, Iran.
6 6- MSc. of agronomy, Department of Optimization of Production and Processing of South Khorasan's Indigenous Medicinal Plants, ACECR of Southern Khorasan Province, Birjand, Iran.
7 Researcher of Saffron Institute, University of Torbat Heydarieh, Torbat Heydarieh, Iran.
8 Assistant Professor, Department of Plant Production, Faculty of Agriculture. University of Torbat Heydarieh, Torbat Heydarieh, Iran.
10.22048/jsat.2025.477694.1541
Abstract
To evaluate the effect of bi-ofertilizers containing element-fixing bacteria on saffron production under drought stress conditions, an experiment was carried out in split plots and a basic RCBD design in two consecutive years (2020-2021 and 2021-2022) in ACECR's research complex for medicinal plants. Experimental treatments included two levels of drought stress (50 and 100% of saffron water requirement) and six levels of fertilizer (control, 100%NPK, 50%NPK, 50%NPK+three biofertilizers, 50%NPK+four biofertilizers, three biofertilizers). Based on the results, the dry weight of the flower, the dry weight of the corolla and stamen, the number of flowers, and the weight of the daughter corms decreased in both years with increasing drought intensity. Also, drought stress in the second year had a more significant effect on reducing these traits. In both years, the use of biofertilizers containing bacteria, along with half of the recommended amount of chemical fertilizers containing nitrogen, phosphorus, and potash (50% NPK + three biofertilizers), led to the achievement of the highest dry weight of stigma, dry weight of flower, dry weight of corola + stamen and number of flowers per unit area. However, the complete removal of chemical fertilizers (three Biofertilizers without chemical fertilizers) had no significant effect on the improving saffron yield. The increase in drought stress severity did not significantly impact the number of corms or the average weight of each corm; however, it did lead to a notable reduction in corm weight. Treatment of simultaneous use of four biofertilizers along with half of the recommended amount of chemical fertilizers containing nitrogen, phosphorus, and potash (50% NPK + four biofertilizers) resulted in the highest corm weight per unit area, achieving a value nearly three times greater than that of the control treatment. These findings suggest that the concurrent application of biological and chemical fertilizers is advisable for fulfilling the nutritional requirements of saffron plants, promoting corm production while minimizing the reliance on chemical fertilizers. In summary, the results of this study indicate that biological fertilizers can effectively substitute a portion of the chemical fertilizers traditionally used in saffron cultivation, regardless of the presence or absence of drought stress.
Keywords

Subjects