The Effect of Foliar Fertilizer and Different Growth Regulators on Quantitative and Qualitative Yields of Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) in Farooj

Abstract

Both Foliar nutrients and phytohormones application have crucial roles in enhancing the yield of plants and meeting the increasing demand for food. To evaluate the effects of a foliar fertilizer and growth regulators on quality and quantity yields of saffron (Crocus sativus L.), a complete block randomized experiment was conducted on the experimental farm in Farooj in 2020-2021. This study consisted of seven treatments: 1-Control, 2- Gibberellin (200 ppm), 3-Auxin (200 ppm), 4- foliar spraying of Fruit Set (specific fertilizer containing 8.75% N as NO3−, 4.37% Zn, and 10% B, 6%K, and 6% sea weed extract at a rate of 0.5 L/ha + gibberellin (200ppm), 5-Fruit Set foliar fertilizer (0.5 L/ha), 6- N-phenyl-phthalamic acid (200 mg/L as irrigation), and 7-N-phenyl-phthalamic acid (spraying with 200 mg/L). It was found that the Fruit Set treatment resulted in the highest flower height (10.33 cm) and the auxin treatment resulted in 46 % increase in leaf height over the control treatment. In the Fruit Set + gibberellin treatment, the highest flower weight (2790g) was achieved, and the highest number of mother corms (15 pieces) was obtained in the auxin and gibberellin treatment. It also was observed that the mother corm weight (44 grams) and diameter (14 cm) were highest in gibberellin treatment (47%), and auxin treatment produced the largest number of daughter corms (32 pieces). Fruit Set + gibberellin, Fruit Set, auxin, and gibberellin significantly increased flower weight by 93%, 67%, 78%, and 77%. The Fruit Set treatment was found to be most effective in terms of crocin levels. Overall, the results of this research showed positive effects of gibberellin on quantitative yield and auxin on the number of daughter corms. In addition, the application of the Fruit Set improved the flowering and quality characteristics of saffron.

Keywords

• safranal
• yield
• auxin
• regulators
• mother corm
• picrocrocin