عباس جلالی

The purpose of this research is to evaluate some traits such as leaf weight and leaf area, corm production, flower, and dry stigma yield of saffron at different drainage depths and distances and to provide a suitable method of annual cultivation of saffron corm in the plain and coastal areas of Sari.

In order to evaluate the effect of different drainage depths and distances on saffron, an experiment was conducted during the years 2021-2022. The treatments included drainage depths of 15, 30 and 45 cm in the main plots and drainage distances of 50, 100 and 150 cm in the subplots.

The highest number and weight of corm above 8 g (354.4 and 1571.4 g.m-2, respectively) was obtained in the treatment of 45 cm drain depth and 100 cm drain distance. According to the results, the highest number of flowers, flower weight and stigma dry weight were respectively 143.37 flower.m-2, 43.01 and 0.323 g.m-2 in the deepest drain, i.e. 45 cm deep and 100 cm drain distance, which no statistically significant difference was observed between the mentioned treatment and the treatment of 45 cm drain depth and 150 cm drain distance, as well as 30 cm drain depth and 100 cm drain distance treatment.

Considering the best yield of the field, among the treatments, the treatment of 30 cm drain depth and 100 cm drain distance can have the best effect on the vegetative and reproductive characteristics of saffron in this region.

This research was conducted with the aim of investigating the effect of cover crop on the density and biomass of weeds in a saffron field in the form of a randomized complete block design with three replications located in Neka in 2022. The experimental treatments applied in the saffron farm was include: cover crop planting of Persian clover (Trifolium resupinatum), barley (Hordeum vulgare), fenugreek (Trigonella foenum - graecum L.), rapeseed (Brassica napus), treatment of no weed control with cover crop (control 1) and weeds control with no cover crop (control 2). The measured traits included the density and biomass of broad-leaved and narrow-leaved weeds, the dominant weed density in the field, Shannon-Wiener species diversity index and the performance indicators of saffron corm that were measured including the number of daughter corm, total daughter corm yield, average daughter corm weight, corm average diameter and corm yield in different weight groups per square meter. The results showed that barley cover crop cultivation treatment has the lowest density and biomass of broad-leaved and narrow-leaved weeds among the treatments, so that its cultivation caused a decrement of 96 and 88% of the biomass of broad-leaved and narrow-leaved weeds, respectively. In addition, among cover crops, the highest species diversity related to canola and the lowest one related to barley are 0.93 and 0.43, respectively. With the comparison among the cover crops, the highest total yield of daughter corm belonged to canola, clover, fenugreek and then barley were 1273.9, 1243, 1234.8 and 1175.2 g/m2, and the highest total corm yield, average corm weight and corm yield above 8 g was obtained with canola cover crop cultivation, which showed an increase of 6, 79 and 14%, respectively, compared to the control with no weeding. In general, although the weeding treatment as well as the saffron corm yield indicators were superior to other treatments, but this point should be notice that with the planting of cover plants, along with the stability and fertility of the system in the long term, there is a higher economic advantage, ultimately brings benefits to the farmer.

This study used the benefit-cost analysis and various financial indicators, such as Net Present Value, Benefit-Cost Ratio, Internal Rate of Return, and Payback Period, to determine the economic feasibility of saffron production under controlled conditions in Mazandaran province. Data for calculating these financial indicators were collected through field surveys, questionnaires, interviews with experts and specialists from the Agriculture Jihad Organization of Mazandaran province, and by obtaining fixed and variable costs as well as income from the establishment of controlled environment spaces for saffron production (spaces with areas of 200 square meters, 1000 square meters, and 5000 square meters) from agricultural service centers. The collected data were analyzed and evaluated using COMFAR software version 3.3, and the results, including financial indicators and sensitivity analysis under different scenarios, were presented. The findings suggest that at a discount rate of 18% and an inflation rate of 35.06%, establishing a saffron production unit on a 200-square-meter plot is not financially viable within a seven-years. (one year for construction and six years for operation). However, for plots with areas of 1000 and 5000 square meters, the internal rate of return is 36.85% and 53.99%, respectively, making them financially viable. According to the project ranking test, increasing the plot area for saffron production under controlled conditions leads to higher financial profitability. Furthermore, based on the sensitivity analysis results, it was identified that increasing product sales income has a more significant impact on project profitability compared to reducing fixed and variable costs. Positive steps such as increasing production, effective marketing, and improving product quality can enhance profitability.

The present research was conducted in order to achieve the best method of planting and obtaining the maximum yield of flowers and stigmas of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) in two stages in Sari Plain. The first stage was carried out in the research farm of Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University during 2021-2022 as split plots on randomized complete blocks design with three replications, in which the experimental treatments included drainage depth (15, 30, and 45 cm) in the main plots and three drainage distances (50, 100 and 150 cm) in the subplots. In the second stage, the produced corms were stored for three months in the incubation environment, and then, the corms were transferred to two different environments of aeroponic and field to evaluate saffron's flower and stigma performance. The measured traits included the number of produced flowers, average flower weight, dry stigma weight in both field and aeroponic, and the amount of safranal, picrocrocin, and crocin and in aeroponic conditions. The evaluation of reproductive traits of saffron under aeroponic showed that with increasing the depth of the drain and decreasing the distance of the drain, traits such as the number of flowers, flower weight, and stigma dry weight increased; when the maximum value of these traits, equivalent to 4744 flowers.m-2, 1423 g.m-2, and 10.7 g.m-2 were observed at 30 cm drainage depth and 100 cm drainage distance, which did not have a significant difference with 45 cm drainage depth treatment and 100 cm drainage distance. In addition, the results showed that the amount of picrocrocin decreased with increasing the depth of the drain and the distance of the drain. In addition, no significant difference was observed between different treatments for crocin content. Comparing the reproductive traits of plants under two cultivation conditions, namely air, and field, revealed a reduction of 21%, 20%, and 12% in the number of flowers, fresh flower weight, and dry weight of stigma, respectively, within the field conditions. In summary, the findings suggest that, for optimal saffron production in coastal areas, the propagation of corms in the field at depths of 30 cm and 100 cm with proper drainage, followed by flowering of the propagated corms through aeroponic cultivation, could be a viable and economically sound approach for one-year saffron cultivation in the Sari plain region.

Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is a perennial plant and geophyte, triploid and belongs to the family of Iridaceae. One of the most important factors that has a great effect on the final performance is the size of corm. Therefore, in order to obtain large corms, it is very important to create suitable environmental and management conditions. Determining the appropriate planting depth is also one of the ways to improve the performance of saffron per unit area. The purpose of this research is to investigate different sizes of saffron corms and planting depth on the yield of daughter corms of different sizes, flower and dry stigma of saffron in the conditions of Sari plain.  The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of different weights of mother corms and different planting depths on corm production and saffron yield in a factorial experiment based on a randomized complete block design and in three replications in the research farm of Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University during the growing season 2019-2020. The experimental treatments included three corm sizes: weight group; small 4±2 g, medium 10±2 g and large 15±2 g and two planting depths of 10 and 15 cm. The studied traits included: the number and yield of daughter corms, the number of buds, the number and yield of flowers and the yield of dry saffron stigma. Data analysis and graphs were done using SAS 9.0, Excel 2016 and Sigma Plot 12.0 software, respectively, and comparison of average data with the help of LSD test at 5% probability level.  The trend of temperature changes as well as the investigation of the phenological events of saffron in the study area showed that at the beginning of the growing season and in the middle of autumn, the emergence of leaves is observed along with the emergence of reproductive organs (fig.1); This factor is probably related to the temperature fluctuations at the beginning of the plant's growing season (Table 1), and on the other hand, due to the allocation of the stock of mother corms to the leaves, it ultimately reduces flowering and stigma yield. The results showed that the highest number of daughter tubers and the total yield of daughter corms with 485 corm/ m2 and 2435.3 g/m2, respectively, were related to the treatment of large mother corm; however, no significant difference was observed between these traits in two planting depths for large corm (Table 2). The lowest total yield of daughter corms related to the treatment of planting small mother corms at a depth of 10 cm was equal to 1488.7 corm/ m-2. The average weight of daughter corms produced in this experiment (between 4.72 and 5.37 g) was about twice more than the amount produced in dry areas (Moallem Banhangi et al. 2019, Moein Rad et al., 2018. Razavian et al. 2019, Sharifi et al. 2021 & Esmi et al. 2019).  According to the results obtained in this experiment and also taking into account the texture of the field soil under test, the depth of 15 cm is more suitable than the depth of 10 cm for the production of corm with the desired size. But there is a possibility that in areas and lands with heavier soil, especially in the conditions of Mazandaran plain, which has abundant rainfall and poor drainage in some areas, shallower planting (10 cm deep) is better than deeper planting. It created more favorable conditions for root growth. Because the shallow planting depth, while creating drainage and better exit of excess water from the environment around the root and stem, provides a better growing environment for the growth of this plant. Therefore, according to the mentioned cases and the climatic features of the Sari plain, for better productivity of agricultural land in autumn and winter, saffron cultivation should be done annually and with priority to produce high-quality seeds and use these seeds in saffron-rich areas or conditions Aviation can be considered.

Saffron can be cultivated in many regions of the world with different climates. But the best climate for growing saffron is the Mediterranean climate with its warm and dry summers. The present study was conducted to evaluate some indicators of saffron growth in 2019-2020 in four region with different altitudes above sea level in Sari, Iran. These regions include Sari plain (level with sea level), Sarkat (350 meters above sea level), Reskat (900 meters above sea level) and Margav (1350 meters above sea level). These experiments were performed in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The treatment was includes corm size in three weight groups: small (4±2 g), medium (10±2 g) and large (15±2 g) and Measured traits include leaf area index, cumulative dry matter, growth rate, relative growth rate and saffron yield. The results showed that the trend of saffron leaf area development in all studied regions has a non-linear trend and follows a logistic-peak function. Based on the results, a significant difference was observed between the leaf area development trend among different sizes of mother corm in all regions and the trend of leaf area index changes during the growing season was higher for larger corms than for smaller corms. The trend of changes in dry matter accumulation also had a sigmoidal trend in all experiment region. Total dry matter changes were higher for larger corms. Although the trend of changes in crop growth rate in higher altitude region was lower; But the rate of growth rate fluctuation or in other words the difference between the minimum and maximum growth rate during the season in the two higher regions was less than the lower regions. The growth trend of saffron in four regions showed that it grows during the season in region with higher altitudes above sea level and following more vegetative growth and more dry matter allocation to the storage organ, larger corm is produced and the potential to increase the yield of dried saffron flowers and stigmas will increase next year.

This experiment was conducted as split-plot in a randomized complete block design with three replications at the research farm of University of Gonabad in the 2017-18 crop year. The main plot included control, chemical fertilizer (100, 120, and 150 kg.ha-1 urea, triple superphosphate, and potassium sulphate, respectively), and vermicompost (10 t.ha-1) and sub-plot consisted of garlic (Allium sativum L.) and fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graceum L.) intercropping in 25:75, 50:50, 75:25, and 100:100 proportions and sole cropping of two crops. The results showed that the highest number and bulblet length was obtained in the chemical fertilizer treatment, however there was no significant difference between this treatment and vermicompost. While, the vermicompost treatment resulted in the highest bulblet diameter. The highest bulblet number was obtained in the 50:50 intercropping treatment and the highest length and bulblet diameter was obtained in the 25:75 one. The highest biological yield and bulb yield (3867 and 2293 kg.ha-1) was obtained in the sole cropping of garlic and chemical fertilizer treatment. The highest garlic essential oil was obtained in the vermicompost (2.33%) and 50:50 intercropping (2.36%) treatments. The plant height and number of pods per plant in fenugreek had the highest increase (30 and 21%, respectively) in the chemical nutrition treatment. Also, the highest number of pods per plant was obtained in the 25:75 intercropping treatment. The highest forage and seed yield of fenugreek (2057 and 682 kg.ha-1, respectively) was observed in the sole cropping and chemical fertilizer treatment. The biological yield was higher in the chemical (2800 kg.ha-1) and organic (2733 kg.ha-1) fertilizer treatments under sole cropping. The highest essential oil of fenugreek seeds was observed in the chemical fertilizer (1.16%) and 75:25 intercropping (1.12%) treatments. The intercropping patterns recorded the land equivalent ratios above 1 and the best situation was obtained from 100:100 intercropping. Garlic was superior to fenugreek in the intercropping treatments except for 100:100 pattern. The intercropping advantage was greater than 1 except for the 100:100 treatment and the highest economic advantage was obtained in the 25:75 pattern and organic fertilizer treatment.

Agritourism can play an important role in the economy of a region by introduce its agricultural products. In this study, while trying to identify the potential and constraints of agricultural tourism development in Torbat Heydarieh, have been introduced strategies for its improvement and will be taken small step in order to strengthen and introduce Saffron brand Torbat Heydarieh and increase export potential. For this purpose, the SWOT method was used to examine the strengths, weaknesses, threats and opportunities available. After identifying these factors using experts 'and farmers' views, a hierarchical analysis method was presented to prioritize and determine the appropriate saffron tourism strategy and appropriate strategies. The results of the study in prioritizing SWOT factors showed that the strengths of the area among other factors and among the factors underlying the strength of the factor are also the highest importance of saffron fields in achieving the study goal based on both the views of farmers and experts. Also, Quantitative Strategic Matrix Analysis (QSPM) showed that, for the development of Saffron tourism in Torbat Heydarieh, and better known of this product, the conservative strategy with a score of 0.156 was the highest in viewpoint of farmers and has been identified as the most attractive strategy. While, according to expert’s viewpoint, the defensive strategy had the highest rank with a score of 0.288 and was the most appropriate strategy. In general, it is suggested that the time and place of harvesting of saffron fields be introduced using various advertisements in Iran and other countries and for the recognition and branding of this product to all parts of the world, investing and providing appropriate support.

Rural issues are very complex and deep issues, most of which are penetrated by the socio-economic-cultural structure of the villages and become part of the rural living and livelihood components. If you look at the rural issues with a simple, one-way perspective (eg, purely economic), you will not be able to understand their depth. Behind many of the idioms and words of the village lies a lot of deep-rooted culture. The current materialist world, and those who see the world, the city, the countryside, and the nomads as merely economic, statistical, rational, and statistical accounts, and seek development and growth through mere figures, are doomed to naivety and simplism. If all things, especially cultural-social relations, were viewed with pure economic vision, the culture of the superior economy would gradually overshadow the whole world. It will lead to nonsense, the absurdity and the unity of life everywhere and everywhere. Walnuts are a word and a fruit. In the statistics books against the word walnut, a few more figures are not mentioned. For example, Iran's walnut production in the year 1367 was 55 thousand tons or its production in Khorasan in the years 1372 and 1373 was 6613 and 4952 tons, respectively. But walnuts, especially in mountainous areas (such as dates in warm regions and olives in the Mediterranean), are an important cultural and social factor that has a very long history. Those who are familiar with the school of construction or structuralism know what part of being a constituent means.

In this study technological gap ratio of different sizes of saffron farms were analyzed using the concept of metafrontier function that estimated with data envelopment analysis. For this purpose, information of 81 farmers that were interviewed with simple random sampling in 2014 was used. Samples collected from saffron farmers were divided into three sizes; small, medium and large.The results of estimating group technical efficiency showed that mean technical efficiency for selected provinces varies between 0.86 and 0.90. This implies that, there are possibilities for either increasing total production of saffron using the same inputs or decreasing input for the current level of saffron production or a mixture of both by filling the gap between the best producer and other producers. The result of technological gap showed that large farms had a better technical performance and in comparison with small and medium farms the large farms had a higher technological gap ratio. In addition the age of farmer, ownership, number of years of experience in saffron farming were positively and significantly associated with technical efficiency of saffron production in the study area. Farmers having production problem in saffron production would have statistically lower level of technical efficiency as compared to those did not have production problem. This study suggested that training programs to accelerate farmer experience and immediate farmer's problem-solving program as measures to increase technical efficiency in saffron production.

In this study, profit efficiency and its influence factors were analyzed using stochastic frontier production approach and simultaneously estimating the behavioral profit model of saffron farms. For this purpose, information from 81 farmers that were interviewed randomly in 2014 was used. The results showed that the average profit efficiency of saffron farms was 61.4 percent and 51.3 percent of saffron farms have lower profit efficiency than 50 percent. Based on the results of the frontier profit function, pesticide costs have a negative effect on the profit of saffron farms and the cost of water, machine, labor cost, years of experience, farm size and participation in promoting class are positive and have a significant effect on profit efficiency. Based on the results of this study providing the necessary conditions along with easier and cheaper access to modern equipment and also encouraging farmers to use optimal allocation and reduce costs is an effective step to improve the profitability of saffron farms.