Investigation of subsurface drip irrigation and the time of the first irrigation on the quantity and quality of saffron

Abstract In the northeastern regions of the country, due to climatic conditions as well as severe water shortages, it is necessary to cultivate crops that have low water requirements and at the same time have optimal water efficiency. This research randomized complete block design study was performed with two factors of irrigation system type (surface S1 and subsurface S2) and irrigation time (region custom or mehr (October) 15 T1, 15 days delay T2 and 30 days delay T3) and three repetitions. The results of the mean squares showed that the quantitative traits (number of flowers, fresh flower weight, dry stigma weight, dry cream weight and large flower index) of saffron due to the interaction of irrigation method and time of first time irrigation were insignificant and only dry cream weight trait was significant at probability 5% level. The results of the mean squares of qualitative traits (piroxin, crocin, safranal, moisture, mold, and total microorganisms) of saffron in the irrigation time factor and the contrast of irrigation time factor in the irrigation system type of all qualitative traits were no significant. The results showed that the highest value for quantitative traits was the number of flowers and the dry weight of stigmas for S1T2 treatment with 53.1 flowers per square meter and 0.79 grams per square meter, respectively. Also, for qualitative traits of piroxin, crocin, saffron and microorganisms, the total S2T1 treatment was obtained with the values of 1/92, 1/262, 1/33 (maximum absorption) and 10733 numbers per gram, respectively and the best irrigation method and Irrigation time, surface system and 15 days delay were obtained.