| Abstrakt: |
In order to investigate the effects of planting date and corm weight on flower characters and saffron (Crocus sativus L.) yield, an experiment as a factorial was carried out based on randomized complete blocks design with three replications in research station of the South Kerman Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center at Sfadagheh during the 2017-2018 growing season Two factors, planting date (Jun, August and September) and corm sizes (6-8, 8-10, 10-12 and >12g) were evaluated in this experiment. The traits associated with flower, stigma and corm were measured during the growing season. Results showed that planting date has a significant effect on all of traits except of dry weight of stigma. Also, the effects of corm weight and interaction of planting date×corm weight were significant on all of the traits. So, the highest number of flower and stigma yield were observed in the planting date of June and the corm weight of more than 12 g. Therefore, for achieving high saffron yield, planting date of June and the use of corms with more than 12 g is recommended. Investigating the characteristics of the daughter corms in the first year of the experiment showed that all of the studied traits were influenced by planting date and the effect of the corm weight was not significant on the characteristics or the number of daughter corm over 6g, average weight of the daughter corm more and less than 6 g. According to the results of the traits related to the daughter corm, it can be anticipated that in the following year there is no difference in yield and its components among the different levels of maternal corm. The results in the second year showed that yield and yield components were only affected by planting date and the corm weight had the same effect on them. The planting date of June 5th was the best in the second year. According to the results and low price of saffron in June in Southern Kerman foothill areas, cultivation of saffron should be done on June 5th. Since in the first year of the experiment, the yield that is achieved even from great maternal corms, and given the fact that the mother corms of different weights in the second year have the same role in determining the stigma yield, in order to reduce the production costs, the 6 -8 g recommended for cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
