Investigation on the effect of organic and chemical fertilizers on morphological and agronomic of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) corm criteria

In order to study the effects of organic and chemical fertilizers on corm morphological and agronomic traits of saffron (Crocus sativus L.), an experiment was conducted based on a randomized complete block designwith four replications at Torbat-e- Heydarieh during growing season 2011-2012. Treatments included organic fertilizer consisting 20 t.ha-1 of municipal waste compost, 40 t.ha-1 of cow manure, chemical fertilizers (with 50, 25 and 25 kg.ha-1 that are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, respectively) and control (without fertilizer). Results indicated that effect of fertilizer treatment was significant on the growth indices of saffron; however, the effective fertilizer kind is different in each of corm weights. The highest total weight of corm, weight and number of >8 g corm, number of 4-8 g corm and was shown in cow manure fertilizer. The highest total number of corm and weight and number of less than 1 g corm was obtained in chemical fertilizer treatment and length and width leaf. The highest weight of 1-4 g corm was shown in municipal waste compost fertilizer treatment.