Allelopathic potential of shoot and corm of saffron residues on wheat, rye, vetch and bean

Abstract

In order to evaluate effects of saffron residues on wheat, rye, vetch and bean, an experiment was conducted in Research Greenhouse of College of Agriculture, Frdowsi University of Mashhad, in 2005. The type of design was split factorial arrangement of treatment based on randomized complete block design with three replications. Main plots included of four crop species, wheat, rye, vetch and bean, and sub plots were saffron corm and foliage, and amount of saffron tissue added to the soil (4.25, 15, 30 and 75 g of grounded tissues in 1.5 kg soil). Results showed that source of saffron tissues and the amount of added tissue to soil, had a significant effect on some of the studied factors in four crops. With increasing the amount of saffron leaf tissue added to the soil, in compare with control, chlorophyll percentage, plant height, leaf surface area, shoot and root biomass were increased, but with increasing the amount of saffron corm tissue compare with control, all studied traits were decreased. Summer crops (vetch and bean) were affected by saffron corm and foliage tissues less than winter crops (wheat and rye). In conclusion, saffron corm and foliage residue had a pronounce allelopathic and promotive effect on the studied crops. Key word: Saffron corm, saffron foliage, leaf surface area, chlorophyll content, saffron biomass.