Abstract
A greenhouse research experiment was conducted. The experiment was arranged in factorial layout based on a completely randomized design. The mother corm size (0.1-4 g, 4.1-8 g and 8-12 g), organic fertilizers (cattle manure 15 t ha-1, vermicompost 10 t ha-1,chamomilecompost 10 t ha-1 and control) and micronutrients (Fe-EDTA and Zn-EDTA) in two levels (foliar application and no application) were assigned as the first, second and third experimental factors, respectively. Based on the results, with increasing mother corm size, formation of small corms (0.1-4 g) decreased, whereas the percentage of medium (4.1-8 g) or large size (more than 8 g) corms increased. The highest corm yield was observed when cattle manure was applied. Moreover, foliar application increased daughter corm yield in medium and larger size corms. Phosphorus and nitrogen concentration in daughter corms increased with increasing the size of mother corms. Organic fertilizers significantly increased phosphorus and nitrogen concentration in all size of corms: phosphorus content in large daughter corms increased five times on account of cattle manure application. Proper nutrient management during the first year of saffron propagation could improve corm number than rather corm weight.
Highlights
Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) belongs to Iridaceae family and is a perennial and autumn-flowering geophyte plant, which produces 1 to 3 purple flowers from each corm (Molina et al, 2005; Kumar et al, 2009)
In order to investigate the effects of mother corm size, organic fertilizers and micronutrient foliar application on corm yield and nitrogen, as well as phosphorus uptake of saffron, a greenhouse experiment was conducted at Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran
The number and weight of daughter corms The results revealed that the greatest number of daughter corms, as well as the highest corm yield, was obtained when large corms (8-12 g) were planted
Summary
Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) belongs to Iridaceae family and is a perennial and autumn-flowering geophyte plant, which produces 1 to 3 purple flowers from each corm (Molina et al, 2005; Kumar et al, 2009). The aim of the hereby study was to investigate the role of corm size, organic fertilizers, iron and zinc foliar application on daughter corm number and yield. In order to investigate the effects of mother corm size, organic fertilizers and micronutrient foliar application on corm yield and nitrogen, as well as phosphorus uptake of saffron, a greenhouse experiment (temperature of 16-22 °C and 65-70% relative humidity) was conducted at Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran.
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