Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
2
Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University,, Tehran, Iran
3
Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi of Mashhad University, Mashhad, Iran.
4
Agriculture Biotechnology Research Institute of Iran (ABRII)-East and North-East Branch, Mashhad, Iran.
10.22092/mpt.2024.365315.1146
Abstract
Fertilization and planting depth play an important role in the quantity and quality of saffron. Therefore, research was conducted in the form of a split-plot based on a randomized completely block design with three replications in the years 2019-2021. Fertilizer as the main factor includes 1- NPK (nitrogen, phosphate and potassium chemical fertilizers based on soil test) 2- Biological fertilizers (BIO) (including nitrogen-fixing free-living bacteria, phosphate and potassium dissolving bacteria) 3- Chemical fertilizers (CHE) (including calcium, potassium, some micronutrients and amino acid fertilizers) and 4- Combined method (BIO- CHE) (including biological and chemical fertilizers) and planting depth was considered as a secondary factor (10 and 15 cm). The results showed that NPK fertilizers induce maximum petal and pistil dry weight (474 ml g.m-2), stigma dry weight (46.4 ml g.m-2) and stigma length (23.3 mm). The highest flower emergence rate (14.5 Flower.day-1) was obtained from NPK fertilizers with a planting depth of 15 cm. The highest amount of crocin was related to BIO- CHE fertilizers and a planting depth of 15 cm, picrocrocin was related to CHE fertilizers and a planting depth of 10 cm, and safranal was related to NPK fertilizers and a planting depth of 15 cm. The highest dry weight of leaves and corms was obtained from the CHE fertilizers and planting depth of 10 cm, which showed an increase of 39.9 and 30.9%, respectively, compared to the NPK fertilizers and the same planting depth. Therefore, biofertilizer is recommended for farmer and producer in the tested area.
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