Feasibility of saffron cultivation in northern area of Khorasan province

B. Bicharanlou, A. Koocheki, M. Bagheri, G.A. Asadi
Saffron is a plant specific to warm summer and mild temperature during flowering emergence in the fall. This has been the reason for southern Khorasan to be the most suitable area for saffron production. However, during recent years due to climate change the temperature profile has changed and the suitable area for production of saffron seems to be shifting towards the northern area of the province. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the credibility of this assumption. A field experiment was conducted in the years 2013-14 and 2014-15 in Shirvan, located at latitude 37°25' and longitude of 57°49' in the northern area of the province, with 3 levels of corm density (50, 100 and 150 corms m-2), 3 levels of chemical fertilizer (100 kg ha-1 urea + 100 kg ha-1 triple super phosphate + 50 kg ha-1 potassium sulfate (Chemical1), 200 kg ha-1 urea + 200 kg ha-1 triple super phosphate + 100 kg 
ha-1 potassium sulfate (Chemical2), 300 kg ha-1 urea + 300 kg ha-1 triple super phosphate + 200 kg ha-1 potassium sulfate (Chemical3)) and three levels of animal manure (cow manure consumption based on 100 kg ha-1 urea (3066 kg ha-1), based on 200 kg ha-1 urea (6132 kg ha-1) and based on 300 kg ha-1 urea (9198 kg ha-1)) and control. The experiment was arranged as split plot based on the randomized complete blocks design with 3 replications. Results indicated that use of animal manure with the highest corm density showed the highest yield. With an average of 3 kg dry stigma ha-1 for the two growing seasons, it appears that the environmental conditions of the northern part becoming suitable for saffron production and in the near future a mayor shift may happen from the south towards the north in this respect.
Bicharanlou, B., Koocheki, A., Bagheri, M. and Asadi, G.A. (2017). Feasibility of saffron cultivation in northern area of Khorasan province. Acta Hortic. 1184, 125-130
DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2017.1184.18
https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2017.1184.18
climate change, temperature, stigma, chemical fertilizer, density
English

Acta Horticulturae