Effect of the foliar application of biological, biostimulator and chemical fertilizers on growth characterestics and yield of saffron (Crocus sativus L.)

In order to comparison the foliar application of biological, biostimulator and chemical fertilizers on growth characteristics and yield of saffron, a factorial experiment was conducted in a completely randomized block design with four replication in 3- year field of saffron in Dargaz, Khorasan Razavi province from 2010 to 2011. The first factor had 5 levels included biostimulator fertilizer Bio-Amino-Palis, biostimulator fertilizer Aminol-Forte, biological fertilizer Nitroauxin, chemical fertilizer Dalfard-15, and control (without fertilizer treatment). The second factor had two levels included 1 and 2 times spraying with seven per thousands concentration of each fertilizers treatments. The results showed Aminol-Forte have better effect than other fertilizers on dry weight of corm, number of corm, number of corm equal/ higher or under 8 grams, fresh weight of flower, number of flowers, fresh and dry weight of stigma and style per square meter, leaf length as well as fresh and dry fresh weight of leaf. Bio-Amino-Palis and Aminol-Forte fertilizer treatments for number of flowers, fresh weight of stigma and style and dry weight of stigma, did not have significant difference. Two times foliar applications only reduced the number of corms weighing less than 8 g per unit area. Interaction of foliar applications levels and fertilizer types did not have significant effect on measured traits. On the basis of the results of this experiment, spraying of Aminol-Forte recommended in saffron fields once.