Saffron yield variability by climatic factors in the northeast of Iran

These days, sustainability in agriculture is one of the most important sections in sustainable development. The main income in rural regions in Khorasan Razavi province in Iran is from agricultural products especially saffron. In this study the effect of climatological parameters on saffron yield was studied. Seven parameters (mean temperature, minimum temperature, maximum temperature, daily temperature difference, relative humidity, rainfall and sunlight) during 20 years in five cities including Torbat Heydarieh, Gonabad, Neyshaboor, Sabzevar and Ghoochan were used. The yield of saffron also in Jihad-e Keshavarzi Organization was measured. Results indicated that saffron growth stages are severely affected by climatic parameters especially temperature and sunlight during the growth season. Also relative humidity and rainfall affected saffron growth in dormant stage (July-August) of saffron.