Although saffron (Crocus sativus L.), as one of the most important medicinal-spice species with low water requirement and high economic value, is not tolerant to salinity, evidences show that it is not highly sensitive to salinity either; however, information about saffron response to salinity at the field scale is very limited. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of irrigation with different levels of electrical conductivity (2, 5, 8, and 11 dS m-1) and different amounts of nitrogen (0, 25, 50, and 100 kg ha-1) on saffron stigma yield and changes in soil salinity. The results showed that stigma yield decreased significantly with increasing salinity in both years, especially in the second year; so that in the second year, no plants grew in the 11 dS m-1 treatment. The reduction in yield due to the highest salinity level in the first and second years was 75.3% and 80.9%, respectively. Only in the second year did nitrogen have a significant effect on stigma yield; the highest yield was obtained at salinities of 2 and 5 dS m-1 from the 50 kg N ha-1 treatment and at salinity of 8 dS m-1 from the 25 kg N ha-1 treatment. The effect of saline irrigation on the electrical conductivity of the saturated soil extract (ECe) was observed from 50 days after planting (DAP), and over time up to 150 DAP, water salinity treatments (except 2 dS m-1) led to an increase in ECe at two depths of 0 to 30 and 30 to 60 cm. At this time, the average ECe of the two depths in irrigation water treatments with salinities of 2, 5, 8 and 11 dS m-1 was equal to 0.3, 1.8, 10.9 and 13.9 dS m-1, respectively. In the second year, the treatments maintained the differences made in the first year relatively evenly throughout the growing season. Given the good regression relationship between the EM38 and ECe readings, the apparent salinity (ECa) could be estimated using the EM38. The differences between ECa in nitrogen and salinity treatments were very pronounced, with the highest ECa being obtained from the 11 dS m-1 treatment. Overall, the results showed that semi-saline water could be used for saffron cultivation with a slight yield reduction, however, irrigation and nutrition management should be carefully observed. In low salinity, 50 kg N ha-1 and in medium salinity, 25 kg N ha-1 is suitable for improving saffron yield. By observing the appropriate leaching fraction for saline conditions and the stability of soil salinity, it is expected that soil salinity at the end of the growing season will be 1.4 times the average of irrigation water, and soil salinity at the end of the saffron growing season will be between 0.94 and 1.44 times that at the beginning of the season.