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

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 hectares area. For this purpose, we were collected three samples from each of the fields with 4, 7 and 14 years old. Sampling depth was from 35 cm with minimum 5 Bunche's number of plants harvested in each sample. Then the samples transported to the laboratory in Ferdowsi University of Mashhad and was determined and recorded all characteristics such as leaf dry weight, number of daughter corms per plant and 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 grams per field ( from 7 to 14 years old) had significant differences (p<95%) than the 4 years 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<99%) with increased farm age (from 7 years to 14 years). Studies showed that the flower and stigma yield of older farm (14 years), was not significantly than 7 years old farm, but this criteria had had a significant different from 4 to 14 years old farm. It seems to reduce tillage operations and for decreased losses of daughter corms for uses of propagation, and the dry Fodder in summer, had not different between efficiency of oldest farm (14 years) or 7 years old farm.

leaf length, planting depth, crown length, corm size, saffron yield.