The Effect of Foliar application of seaweed Extract, Urea and micronutrient fertilizers On Performance and Its Components of saffron (Crocus sativus L.)

Nutrition management is one of the most important parameters in determining the yield and quality of saffron (Crocus sativus L.). In order to study the effects of foliar application on flower and corm yield of saffron, a field experiment was conducted as factorial layout based on a randomized complete block design during growing season of 2016-2017 at a private farm in Bojd village of Birjand, Iran. Treatments included three levels of seaweed (Acadian) (control, 1 and 2 liters per thousand), three levels of Urea (such as control, 7 and 10 per thousand) and two levels of micronutrient (MICROMIX ECOQUEL) fertilizers (including control and 2 per thousand). The results revealed that the effect of seaweed on all measured traits was positive and significant. The application of 2 l.ha-1 seaweed was increased dried weight of stigma, the number of flower, corm dried weight and dried weight of leaf up to 65.32, 37.06, 61.99 and 16.15 percent compared to control, respectively as (P≤0.01). The effect of Urea foliar application on the all measured traits was significant. The highest dry yield of stigma by 41.3% as compared to control was produced in 7 kg.ha-1 urea foliar application. The effect of foliar micronutrient was positive and significant on all measured traits. Generally, application of 2 L.ha-1 of seaweed, 7 kg of urea and 2 kg of micronutrient had the highest yield in most of the measured traits. Overall, the use of ecologic fertilizers while reducing the consumption of chemical fertilizers and mitigating environmental pollutions, will be an effective and promising step towards sustainable agriculture.