Evaluation of Acadian Seaweed Extract and Biomex Liquid Poultry on the Qualitative Traits and Secondary Metabolites of Saffron (Crocus sativus L.)

To investigate the effects of foliar application of Acadian seaweed extract® and Biomix poultry manure® on qualitative traits and secondary metabolites of saffron, an experiment was conducted as a factorial arrangement based on a randomized complete block design with three replications in the city of Ferdows the during growing season of 2017-2018. Experimental treatments included four levels of Acadian seaweed extract® (0, 1, 1.5, and 2 kg. l000 L-1 water) and four levels of liquid Biomix poultry manure® (0, 2, 4 and 6 L. l000 L-1 water). Measured traits included phenol, anthocyanin, crocin, picrocrocin, safranal, and fresh and dry stigma yield. Results showed the effect of treatments was significant on the studied traits. So that saffron stigma picrocrocin in treatment of 2 kg. l000 L-1 Acadian seaweed extracts® was 26% more than the control. Liquid poultry manure® also had a significant effect on secondary metabolites of saffron, so that saffron stigma picrocrocin in treatment of 6 L. l000 L-1 Biomix poultry manure® was 24% more than the control. Interaction between Acadian seaweed extract® and Biomix poultry manure® had a significant effect on anthocyanin, crocin, safranal, and phenol content. The highest increase was observed in 2 kg. l000 L-1 Acadian® and 6 L. l000 L-1 Biomix poultry manure®. Also, the use of seaweed extract® had a significant effect on stigma yield, so that the yield of fresh stigma (13%) and dry stigma (20%) in the treatment of 2 kg. l000 L-1 seaweed extracts® was higher than the control. According to the results of this study, the use of seaweed Acadian® (2 kg. l000 L-1 water) alone or in combination with Biomix poultry manure® (6 L. l000 L-1water) can play an important role in enhancing the yield and quality characteristics of saffron.