Effects of Corm Size, Organic Fertilizers, Fe-EDTA and Zn-EDTA Foliar Application on Nitrogen and Phosphorus Uptake of Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) in a Calcareous Soil under Greenhouse Conditions

Abstract

A greenhouse research experiment was conducted. The experiment was arranged in factorial layout based on a completely randomized design. The mother corm size (0.1-4 g, 4.1-8 g and 8-12 g), organic fertilizers (cattle manure 15 t ha^-1, vermicompost 10 t ha^-1,chamomilecompost 10 t ha^-1 and control) and micronutrients (Fe-EDTA and Zn-EDTA) in two levels (foliar application and no application) were assigned as the first, second and third experimental factors, respectively. Based on the results, with increasing mother corm size, formation of small corms (0.1-4 g) decreased, whereas the percentage of medium (4.1-8 g) or large size (more than 8 g) corms increased. The highest corm yield was observed when cattle manure was applied. Moreover, foliar application increased daughter corm yield in medium and larger size corms. Phosphorus and nitrogen concentration in daughter corms increased with increasing the size of mother corms. Organic fertilizers significantly increased phosphorus and nitrogen concentration in all size of corms: phosphorus content in large daughter corms increased five times on account of cattle manure application. Proper nutrient management during the first year of saffron propagation could improve corm number than rather corm weight.