EffectEffect of Phosphorus and PlantPlant Density on Floral YieldYield andand CormCorm Production of Crocus sativus
Presented at National Workshop on Saffron, Nov 14-16, 2006, Herat
Masood Sayed , Assistant Professor Faculty of Agriculture, Kabul University
Based on M.Sc. Field Research Completed at Department of Horticulture, NWFP Agricultural University Peshawar April 2006 INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION
BOTANICALBOTANICAL NAME:NAME: CrocusCrocus sativussativus SaffronSaffron :: toto IrisIris familyfamily ENGLISHENGLISH NAME:NAME: SaffronSaffron LOCALLOCAL NAME:NAME: ZafronZafron ORIGEN:ORIGEN: KhorasanKhorasan ,, Mediterranean,Iraq,creteMediterranean,Iraq,crete and.and. DISTRIBUTION:DISTRIBUTION: AsiaAsia (Iran,(Iran, India)India) AfricaAfrica (( Morocco)Morocco) EuropeEurope (Spain,(Spain, Italy,Italy, TurkeyTurkey andand Greece)Greece) AmericaAmerica BotanicalBotanical descriptiondescription
FallFall floweringflowering perennialperennial plantplant SterileSterile triploidtriploid doesdoes notnot producedproduced viableviable seedseed TheThe cropcrop propagatedpropagated byby cormcorm multiplicationmultiplication FlowerFlower emergeemerge inin autumnautumn ThreeThree yellowyellow stamensstamens whichwhich notnot produceproduce viableviable sporesspores OneOne ovaryovary withwith threethree stigmasstigmas whichwhich collectedcollected andand calledcalled saffronsaffron botanicalbotanical discription(continuediscription(continue ))
FlowerFlower hashas sixsix petalspetals SaffronSaffron hashas notnot truetrue stemstem LeavesLeaves ,sepal,sepal andand flowerflower bearingbearing stalkstalk isis protectedprotected byby aa sheetsheet LeafLeaf lengthlength isis nearnear toto 40cm40cm longlong ClimateClimate
Crocus sativus needs hot and dry climate in summer and cold in winter Can be grown in mountainous climate Saffron plants need strong direct sunlight Saffron can be grown in arid territory with sandy soil, under hot and dry summers Plant tolerate cold winter up to - 10 - 23 °C and summer 40 -45oC The recommended annual precipitation for C sativus is 600 -700mm/year But it can also grow at 300 -350 mm/year precipitation Due to this reason it is drought resistance ClimateClimate (continue(continue ))
TheThe optimumoptimum temperaturetemperature duringduring cormscorms plantationplantation isis 20oC20oC CrocusesCrocuses growgrow bestbest inin friable,friable, loose,loose, lowlow --density,density, wellwell --watered,watered, andand wellwell -- draineddrained clayclay -- calcareouscalcareous soilssoils withwith highhigh organicorganic contentcontent RaisedRaised bedsbeds usedused SoilSoil pHpH 5.85.8 --7.87.8 CormsCorms areare plantedplanted outout duringduring theirtheir dormantdormant periodperiod .. CultivationCultivation
RaiseRaise bedbed RowRow toto rowrow distancedistance 30cm30cm PlantPlant toto plantplant distancedistance 1010 --20cm20cm PlantingPlanting depthdepth 1515 -- 20cm20cm HealthyHealthy cormscorms ofof 2.5cm2.5cm diameterdiameter andand 10gm10gm weightweight shouldshould bebe selectedselected forfor plantingplanting SaffronSaffron cormscorms sheetsheet removedremoved CultivationCultivation (continue(continue ))
TheThe sheathssheaths ofof cormscorms shouldshould bebe removedremoved DroughtDrought resistanceresistance AvoidedAvoided heavyheavy irrigationirrigation CausesCauses rottingrotting ofof thethe cormcorm duringduring dormantdormant stage.stage. FertilizerFertilizer applicationsapplications
UponUpon requirerequire lessless fertilizerfertilizer ButBut forfor betterbetter cropcrop andand maintainmaintain soilsoil fertilityfertility 8080 kgkg P/haP/ha 3030 kgkg K/haK/ha 2020 kgkg N/haN/ha PP affectsaffects thethe shapeshape andand colorcolor ofof flowerflower KK improvesimproves resistanceresistance againstagainst diseases.diseases. organicorganic mattermatter 4040 --5050 kg/hakg/ha WeedWeed controlcontrol
MechanicalMechanical controlcontrol ofof weedsweeds TheThe useuse ofof herbicidesherbicides onon thethe cropcrop isis notnot usefuluseful ButBut RoundupRoundup ®® oror BusterBuster ®® inin dormantdormant stagesstages MulchMulch oror sawsaw dustdust cancan bebe usedused DiseasesDiseases andand pestspests
RabbitsRabbits andand ratsrats NematodesNematodes UponUpon diseasesdiseases resistanceresistance But,But, FungalFungal andand bacteriabacteria diseasesdiseases (e.g.(e.g. cormcorm rots,rots, leafleaf rustsrusts etc)etc) FlowerFlower pickingpicking
BearBear floweringflowering aboutabout 4040 daysdays afterafter plantingplanting HandHand pickingpicking FlowersFlowers areare usuallyusually pluckedplucked dailydaily inin thethe morningmorning afterafter thethe dewdew hashas evaporatedevaporated SaffronSaffron flowersflowers StigmaStigma removalremoval
-- SaffronSaffron isis obtainobtain fromfrom thethe stigmastigma ofof thethe flowerflower - StigmaStigma separatedseparated byby handhand daily.daily. StigmaStigma dryingdrying
TheThe qualityquality ofof saffronsaffron dependdepend onon dryingdrying methodmethod StigmaStigma areare drieddried inin differentdifferent methodsmethods SpanishSpanish methodmethod 110110 oCoC forfor twotwo minuteminute FrenchFrench methodmethod 7070 oCoC forfor 3030 minutes.minutes. StigmaStigma dryingdrying (continue(continue ))
RecentRecent SpanishSpanish researchresearch showsshows dryingdrying inin aa hothot airair flowflow atat 7070 oCoC forfor 66 minutesminutes willwill givegive qualityquality saffronsaffron SlowSlow dryingdrying givesgives aa poorpoor qualityquality product.product. BrightnessBrightness ofof colorcolor isis aidedaided byby quickquick highhigh temperaturetemperature dryingdrying IngredientsIngredients
StigmaStigma ofof SaffronSaffron containcontain :: FatsFats MineralMineral saltssalts TurpinTurpin (aroma(aroma duedue toto turpin)turpin) PicrocrocinPicrocrocin (spice)(spice) PicroPicro crozinozoidescrozinozoides CrocinCrocin (color(color )) usesuses
MedicineMedicine (cancer,(cancer, antianti depression,depression, brainbrain tonic,tonic, stomachstomach tonic,tonic, diarrheadiarrhea antianti septicseptic andand womenwomen diseases)diseases) AsAs aa spice.spice. AsAs aa colorcolor forfor food.food. AsAs aa dyingdying forfor cloth.cloth. AromaticAromatic (perfume).(perfume). AsAs inkink .. OrnamentalOrnamental PricePrice
SaffronSaffron isis thethe onlyonly plantplant productproduct whichwhich purchasepurchase inin gramgram SaffronSaffron pricesprices atat wholesalewholesale andand retailretail ratesrates rangerange fromfrom US$500/poundUS$500/pound toto US$5000/poundUS$5000/pound DueDue toto highhigh priceprice itit isis calledcalled goldgold plantplant PricePrice dependdepend onon saffronsaffron qualityquality ObjectivesObjectives
Alternative of poppy in Afghanistan Due to: High rate. More uses . Low input cost: Less fertilizer . Low irrigation. Adaptation to different climatic condition Low range of disease incident
ObjectivesObjectives (continue)(continue)
ToTo observeobserve thethe growth,growth, developmentdevelopment andand productionproduction ofof C.C. sativussativus underunder thethe agroagro --climaticclimatic conditionsconditions ofof easteast provincesprovinces ofof AfghanistanAfghanistan ToTo findfind outout thethe effecteffect ofof PP onon flowerflower yield,yield, cormcorm andand cormelcormel productionproduction ofof C.C. sativussativus (objective)(objective) ToTo findfind outout thethe effecteffect ofof plantingplanting distancedistance onon flowerflower (saffron)(saffron) yield,yield, cormcorm andand cormelcormel productionproduction ofof C.C. sativussativus .. MaterialMaterial andand methodmethod
LOCATION:LOCATION: OrnamentalOrnamental HorticultureHorticulture nurserynursery farmfarm departmentdepartment ofof HorticultureHorticulture NWFPNWFP AgriculturalAgricultural UniversityUniversity PeshawarPeshawar duringduring October,October, 20052005 ––April,April, 2006.2006. COMPONENTSCOMPONENTS OFOF THETHE RESEARCHRESEARCH
TwoTwo factorsfactors Phosphorus doses (NPK) •• P1=P1= 10:10: 0:0: 2020 •• P2=P2= 10:20:2010:20:20 •• P3=P3= 10:40:2010:40:20 •• P4=P4= 10:60:2010:60:20 MethodologyMethodology (continue)(continue)
DensitiesDensities •• D1=5D1=5 cmcm •• D2=10cmD2=10cm •• D3=15cmD3=15cm •• D4=20cmD4=20cm •• D5=25cmD5=25cm
ParametersParameters DAYSDAYS TOTO SPROUTINGSPROUTING DaysDays toto floweringflowering FlowerFlower sizesize FlowerFlower /plant/plant FlowerFlower freshfresh FlowerFlower drydry weightweight StigmaStigma weightweight SproutsSprouts Number/PlantNumber/Plant LeavesLeaves numbernumber LeafLeaf lengthlength LeafLeaf freshfresh weightweight LeafLeaf areaarea (( cmcm 22)) LeafLeaf drydry weightweight NoNo ofof corm/plantcorm/plant SingleSingle cormelcormel numbernumber SingleSingle cormcorm weightweight SingleSingle cormelcormel weightweight SingleSingle cormcorm diameterdiameter (cm)(cm) SingleSingle cormelcormel diameterdiameter CormCorm volumevolume CormelCormel volumevolume EconomicEconomic importanceimportance
CormCorm requiredrequired forfor oneone hectare.hectare. 55 tonstons SaffronSaffron obtainobtain fromfrom oneone hectarehectare 55 ——10kg.10kg. ExistingExisting marketmarket price.price. $$ 3000dollars/kg.3000dollars/kg. TotalTotal incomeincome $15000$15000 --3000030000 dollars/hectare.dollars/hectare. lowlow irrigationirrigation droughtdrought resistance.resistance. LowLow fertilizer.fertilizer. LowLow cultureculture practicepractice (one(one yearyear sowingsowing forfor 33 ------55 yearsyears yields)yields) CostCost ofof cormscorms $$ 500/500/ tonstons oror $$ 25002500 LaborLabor andand otherother culturalcultural practicespractices cost.$2000cost.$2000 (( corcormm planting,planting, flowerflower pluckingplucking andand stigmastigma separation)separation) IrrigationIrrigation fertilizerfertilizer andand chemicalchemical costcost $500.$500. TotalTotal costcost ofof productionproduction $.2500dollar$.2500dollar NetNet incomeincome perper hectarehectare .$..$. 1000010000 ------2500025000 RecommendationsRecommendations
PhosphorusPhosphorus dosedose 2020 --40kg/ha40kg/ha shouldshould bebe usedused forfor betterbetter ofof crocuscrocus sativussativus DistanceDistance between between 10 10 --15cm15cm should should used used for for betterbetter floralfloral yieldyield andand cormcorm production.production. TheThe following following factors factors should should be be studied studied for for the the betterbetter productionproduction ofof crocuscrocus sativussativus .. DifferentDifferent plantingplanting dates.dates. LowLow phph DifferentDifferent potassiumpotassium andand nitrogennitrogen doses.doses. DifferentDifferent lightlight intensities.intensities. DifferentDifferent dryingdrying andand storagestorage techniques.techniques. DifferentDifferent pickingpicking andand processingprocessing techniquestechniques THANKSTHANKS FROMFROM ICARDAICARDA ANDAND DACCARDACCAR