Investigation of planting age farm on saffron characteristics and corm position in soil, Kashmar, Iran

M. Sabet Temouri
To evaluate the morphological characteristics and yield of saffron in the fields with ages over 4 years, we conducted random sampling from 3 fields with 3 ha area. For this purpose, we collected three samples from each of the fields with 4, 7 and 14 years old. Sampling depth was from 35 cm with minimum 5 bunches of plants harvested in each sample. Then the samples were transported to the laboratory in Ferdowsi University of Mashhad and all characteristics were determined and recorded such as leaf dry weight, number of daughter corms plant-1, average weight of corms, corms position in depth, collar length, leaves length, leaves diameter, number of leaves and stigma and flower yield of saffron in the field. Results showed that leaf length, collar length and the number of corms weighing between 1 to 3 g field-1 (from 7 to 14 years old) had significant differences (p≤0.05) compared to the 4-year-old field. Also, the number of leaves and corms weight increased with aging field (from 4 to 7 years) but these criteria decreased significantly (p≤0.01) with increased farm age (from 7 years to 14 years). Studies showed that the flower and stigma yield of the older farm (14 years), was not significant compared to the 7-year-old farm, but these criteria had a significant difference from 4- to 14-years-old farms. It seems to reduce tillage operations and for decreased losses of daughter corms for uses of propagation, and the dry fodder in summer, had no difference between efficiency of oldest farm (14 years) or 7-year-old farm.
Sabet Temouri, M. (2017). Investigation of planting age farm on saffron characteristics and corm position in soil, Kashmar, Iran. Acta Hortic. 1184, 31-38
DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2017.1184.5
https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2017.1184.5
leaf length, planting depth, crown length, corm size, saffron yield
English

Acta Horticulturae