Download Crocus sativus

Effect of Plant Distance on Flower Yield and Qualitative and
Quantitative Characteristics of Forage Production of Saffron (Crocus
sativus) in Mashhad Conditions
A.A. Mohammad-Abadi, P. Rezvani-Moghaddam, A. Sabori
Center of Excellency for Special Crops
Department of Agronomy
Ferdowsi University of Mashhad
P.O.Box: 91775-1163
Mashhad
Iran
Keywords: crop density, dry matter, digestibility, yield
Abstract
Effects of different plant distance on stigma dry matter yield, leaf dry
matter yield, in vitro dry matter digestibility, organic matter digestibility and
Digestible-value of Crocus sativus leaves were studied in an experiment which
was conducted at Experimental Station, College of Agriculture, Ferdowsi
University of Mashhad, Iran in years 2005-2006. Four plant distances (5 x 20, 10
x 20, 15 x 20 and 20 x 20 cm) were compared in a Randomized complete block
design with three replications. The results showed that there were no significant
differences between different plant distance in terms of fresh flower yield and,
fresh and dry matter stigma yield. However, by increasing plant distance fresh
flower yield and fresh and dry matter stigma yield were decreased. Plant
distance had a significant effect on dry matter leaf yield. Dry matter leaf yield
was higher in shorter plant distance. There were no significant differences
between different plant distance in terms of In vitro dry matter digestibility,
organic matter digestibility and D-value of saffron leaves. There were significant
differences between different plant distances in terms of dry matter digestible
yield. By increasing plant distance dry matter digestible yield of saffron leaves
was decreased
INTRODUCTION
Saffron (Crocus sativus) is the most valuable crop species in the world. At
present Iran with production of 95 % of the world saffron is ranked as the first
producer. In 2002 the net income from exporting 121 tons of saffron exceeded 51
million US $ (Amirghasemi, 2002). The three-branch style of saffron flowers (stigma)
is the most important economic part of the plant and known as Saffron. Saffron has a
long history of use as a spice and for its wonderful color, odor and taste. In the
traditional medications saffron has several properties such as relaxant, expectorant,
exhilarating agent, digestion stimulant, spasm calmative, menstruation and fetus
abortion.
Saffron leaves are used as forage for animal feeding. 75 % of Iranian farmers
use saffron leaves as animal feed in the form of hay and only in 14 % direct grazing is
practiced. Generally saffron produces about 1.5 t/ha dry matter leaf per year. Where
cultivated areas are high (e.g. 47000 ha in Iran) annually considerable amount of leaf
dry matter will be produced from saffron fields which could be used as dried forage.
There are a few literatures on saffron forage production and its forage qualities.
Valizadeh (1989) studied the nutritive value of saffron leaves. His results showed that
generally saffron forage had an intermediate quality and digestibility due to high
fibrous tissues compared to conventional animal feeds such as alfalfa. Cheap price of
saffron forage and possibility of enhancement of its quality makes it a potential
animal feed however, more detailed study about these aspects are require.
Behnia (1992) stated that the number of saffron corms required per unit of
land depends on the planting method, size of corms and also the habit of farmers, and
varies between 1.5 to 10 tons per hectare. Alavi-shahri et al. (1995) reported that by
increasing plant density stigma dry matter yield was increased. Their result showd
that 50 plants per m2 (10×20 cm) was the best density. It has been reported that 30 ×
10 plant density to be more productive than other pattern studied in saffron cultivation
(Ghalavand and Abdulahian, 1995).
The present work generates special data on different plant distance on stigma
dry matter yield and leaf dry matter yield, in vitro dry matter digestibility, organic
matter digestibility and Digestible-value of Crocus sativus leaves which cultivated in
dry and semi dry area of Iran
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Saffron corms for this study were obtained from a field in Mashhad (Iran). The
experimental treatments were plant distance (5 x 20, 10 x 20, 15 x 20 and 20 x 20
cm). A randomized complete block design was carried out at the Experimental station,
College of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, with three replications, in
years 2004-2006. Planting was done by hand, at 20 cm row spacing. The weight of
corms was about 8-10 gram. Plot size was 5 m2 (2 X 2.5 m). One months before
cultivation, 40 t/ha cow manure added to the soil and 150 kg/ha phosphate (46 %
P2O5) and 100 kg/ha nitrogen (48 % N) fertilizers were used at the planting time.
Weeds were controlled by hand, when needed. Harvesting of the flowers and leaves
were done by hand at 28 Oct 2005 and 17 April 2006, respectively. After mechanical
separation of tepals, the stigmas were hand separated from carpels and dried. Flower
and leaf yield were determined in 2.8 m2 in each plot. Dry matter digestibility, organic
matter digestibility and digestible value (D-value) were determined based on Jones
and Hayward (1973) methods.
Collected data were analyzed by using Excel and means were compared by
Least Standard Deviation Methods (LSD 5 %).
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The results of flowers and leaves which are presented here collected at the second
year after planting saffron. In the first year plants did not produce any flower. The
results of leaves which collected in the end of first year did not included here. Plant
distance had a significant effect on dry matter leaf yield. The highest and the lowest
dry matter leaf yield were obtained at 5 x 20 and 20 x 20 plant distance, respectively
(Fig. 1). There were no significant differences between different plant distance in
terms of In vitro dry matter digestibility, organic matter digestibility and D-value of
saffron leaves. By increasing plant distance all mentioned forage quality
characteristics were increased. There were significant differences between different
plant distances in terms of dry matter digestible yield of saffron leaves (Fig. 2). By
increasing plant distance dry matter digestible yield of saffron leaves was decreased
Literature Cited
Alavi-Shahri, H., Mahajeri, M. and Falaki, M.A. 1995. Effects of plant density on
saffron yield. Abstracts of the Second National Symposium on Saffron and
Medicinal Plants. 8-9 November 1994, Gonabad, Iran.
Amirghasemi, T. 2002. Saffron, Red Gold of Iran. Azadeghan Publishing Company.
Pp.3.
Behnia, M.R. 1992. Saffron cultivation. Tehran University Press.
Ghalavand, A. and Abdulahian, M. 1995. Effects of plant spacing and methods of
planting on saffron. Abstracts of the Second National Symposium on Saffron and
Medicinal Plants. 8-9 November 1994, Gonabad, Iran.
Jones, D.I.H. and Hayward, M.V. 1973. A cellulase digestion technique for predicting
the dry matter digestibility of grasses. J. Sci. Fd. Agric. 24: 1419-14266-14Sabzevari, 1996. Saffron, the red gold of desert. Agricultural Bank, No. 46.
Valizadeh, R. 1989. Evaluation of saffron leaf as animal feed. Iranian Industrial and
Scientific Research Organization-Khorasan center (Technical report).
Fig. 1. Effect of plant distance on dry matter leaf yield of
saffron (D1=5 x 20, D2=10 x 20, D3=15 x 20 and D4=20 x
20 cm)
Fig. 2. Effect of plant distance on dry matter digestible yield of
saffron leaf (D1=5 x 20, D2=10 x 20, D3=15 x 20 and
D4=20 x 20 cm)