Evaluation of Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) productivity under salt stress and nitrogen application under Birjand condition

 In the arid and semi-arid regions salinity stress has a great role of productivity.The main aspire of this study was to weigh up the influence of various levels of salinity stress on yield and yield components of Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) under different nitrogen application forms at College of Agriculture,University of Birjand. Three years experiment (2006-2008) was performed using split-plot design using salinity of irrigation water as main-plot factor, and nitrogen application form as sub-plot factor in four replicates. Four levels of salt concentration included, irrigation water of 1.5 dSm−1 (as control), 3.5 dSm−1, 5.5 dSm−1 and 7.5 dSm−1 and sub-plot treatments consisted of three application forms of nitrogen encompass solid application, solid-foliar application, and foliar application were employed in this study. The results indicated that all study parameters were influenced by different salt stress concentrations. However, various application forms of nitrogen statistically affected saffron production only in 2006.). Highest economic yield under highest salt concentration were reached under solid application of nitrogen in 2006 (0.18 gr.m-2), 2007 (0.48 gr.m-2), and 2008 (0.29 gr.m-2). In conclusion, saline water up to 5.5 dSm−1 could be applied for saffron production in saline areas. Also, Foliar application of nitrogen in lower levels of salinity and solid application under higher salinity stress might be increasing saffron production in east of Iran.