Effects of corm size and plant density on Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) yield and its components-IJAAR

• Samira Sameh Andabjadid1*, Bahman Pasban Eslam2, Amir Reza Sadeghi Bakhtavari1, Hamid Mohammadi1

1. Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Azerbaijan Shahid Madani, Tabriz, Iran
2. Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center of East Azerbaijan, Tabriz, Iran

In order to investigate the saffron yield and its components at different levels of corm size and plant density, an experiment was conducted at East Azerbaijan Agricultural and Natural resources Research Center, as a factorial based on randomized complete block design with three replications for two years (2012-2013). First year was considered for better plant establishment. The factors consist of corm sizes based on the corm diameter in two levels (A1=2-4 cm and A2=4-6 cm), planting rows space in three levels (B1=10, B2=20 and B3=30 cm) and corm space within the row in two levels (C1=7 and C2=14 cm).

Traits including plant emergence percentage, number of plants and flowers per unit area, length of rod, length of stigma, fresh and dry weight of flowers, fresh and dry weight of stigmas, total stigma yield, the onset of flowering and flowering period were evaluated on the plants. Results showed that all above mentioned traits except length of rod were significantly affected by corm size. Bigger corms showed more emergence percentage and flower fresh weight. Number of plants was significantly affected by the interaction which three factors so that maximum number of plants per unit area was observed at treatment of bigger corms with 10 (cm) corms spacing between rows and 7 (cm) corms spacing within rows. 7 (cm) corms spacing on the row created maximum flower number per unit area.

Length of stigma, dry weight of flower, fresh and dry weight of stigma were significantly affected by the interaction between corm size with corms spacing within row so that bigger corms with less spacing were superior. Maximum stigma yield was obtained from the bigger corms in 7 (cm) corm space on the row and 10 (cm) corm space between rows. Flowering of bigger corms began sooner and their flowering period was more than others.

Originally Published at: Volume 6, Number 3, March 2015 – IJAAR

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