Evaluation of saffron flower and corm yield affected by different maternal corm weight and sowing depth

In order to study the effects of different weights of mother corm and sowing depth on flower and corm yield of saffron (Crocus sativus L.), an experiment was conducted as a factorial layout based on complete randomized block design with three replications at the Agricultural Research Station, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran during 2015-2016 growing seasons. The experimental treatments were all combination of four mother corm weights (4-6, 6.1-8, 8.1-10 and 10.1-12 g) and three planting depths (10, 15 and 20 cm). In the first year, criteria such as flower and corms yield were evaluated, and in the second year only flower yield were recorded. The result revealed that in both years the interaction between corm weight and planting depths was significant on most traits of the studied flower. Flower, stigma and style yield significantly increased by increasing corm weight and planting depth. The maximum dry stigma yield was obtained in 10.1-12 g corm weight and 20 cm planting depth which was 0.1095 and 0.5393 g.m-2 in the first and the second year, respectively. The interaction between treatments was not significant on daughter corm but the individual effects of each treatment was significant. The higher corm yield (1181.6 g.m-2) was related to 10.1-12 g corm weight treatment. Deeper planting (20 cm) produced the high corm yield (938.86 g.m-2). Eventually, the high excellence of yield in corm weight and planting depth treatments of higher, we recommend corms with higher weight and deeper sowing depth for cultivating saffron.