Zoning of Saffron Quality Production using Geostatistics Methodology (Case Study: Razavi and Southern Khorasan Province)

In addition to the economic advantages than other products saffron has significant role in the creation and management of water resources in arid and semi-arid Iran. In addition to quantity, special attention to the quality of this particular product, at least at the international level, can lead to a better exchange it. Zoning quality saffron production in the provinces of Razavi and Southern Khorasan using geostatistical method, check the main components determines the marketability and quality of saffron (crocin, picrocrocin and safranal) UV-visible spectrophotometry using standard ISO / TS 36322 the sampling of 14 major center for the production of saffron Safiabad, Shahn Abad, Chakhmaq and Abrood of Torbat heydarieh, Kashmar, Bardaskan, Torbt Jam, Faizabad, Sabzevar, Sarayan, Neyshabur and Birjand in autumn 2016was done. The results showed that geostatistical methods with acceptable accuracy crocin, picrocrocin and safranal estimated, while, in cokriging method, Picrocrocin, best auxiliary variables in determining crocins and safranal and safranal the best estimate covariate picrocrocin Obtained. In estimating crocin, picrocrocin and safranal respectively Gaussian models, linear and exponential regression models were best. The results showed that most areas of the province of Razavi and Southern Khorasan, the crocins and picrocrocin has the same quality is low and the safranal the north and southeast areas with better quality. Overall results of this study indicate suitability of geostatistical interpolation method, classification and identification of suitable areas for cultivation of saffron is qualitatively.