دانشگاه بیرجند پژوهش‌های زعفران 2345-3869 14 1 2026 05 22 Evaluating Research Directions and Identifying Research Gaps and Emerging New Topics in Iranian National Conferences of Saffron ارزیابی جهت‌گیری‌های پژوهشی و شناسایی شکاف‌های تحقیقاتی و موضوعات نوپدید در همایش‌های ملی زعفران ایران 1 33 3506 10.22077/jsr.2025.9315.1273 FA حمیدرضا فلاحی دانشیار، گروه مهندسی تولید و ژنتیک گیاهی و عضو گروه پژوهشی گیاه و تنش‌های محیطی، دانشکده کشاورزی، دانشگاه بیرجند، بیرجند، ایران. 0000-0002-1083-2738 مهسا اقحوانی شجری استادیار، گروه اگروتکنولوژی، دانشکده کشاورزی، دانشگاه فردوسی مشهد، مشهد، ایران. 0009-0007-7870-5480 عباس همتی کاخکی استادیار، موسسه پژوهشی علوم و صنایع غذایی، مشهد، ایران؛ محقق میهمان، پژوهشکده زعفران ، دانشگاه تربت حیدریه. تربت حیدریه، ایران. 0009-0009-8684-0126 Journal Article 2025 04 30 Introduction: Saffron is considered as a strategic crop for Iran due to its food, cosmetic, health and medicinal uses, high economic value and adaptability to the arid climatic conditions. Accordingly, seven national conferences on saffron, have been held in Iran, from 1988. So far, no bibliometric study has been conducted with the aim of qualitatively examining and identifying the research directions of Iranian national saffron conferences. Accordingly, the aim of this study was identifying the research topics, being aware of research gaps and providing a way for future research based on information presented in the past saffron conferences. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, the research trend was evaluated during the seven sessions of the Iranian National Conference of Saffron. The first of them was held in Qaen in 1988 and the last one was held in Birjand in 2024. Research topics were divided into eight main axes, 17 branches, and 98 subgroups. Articles that examined more than one research topic were attributed to all relevant subgroups. Results and Discussion: Based on the results of eight main research axes, out of 601 articles presented at seven sessions of the national conferences of saffron, 236 articles (39.3%) dealt with the subject of production and cultivation, 90 articles (14.9%) with saffron uses and applications, 77 articles (12.8%) with harvesting and post-harvest issues, 73 articles (12.1%) with economic issues, 55 articles (9.1%) with genetics, breeding and biotechnology, 24 articles (0.4%) with pests and diseases, 19 articles (3.2%) with mechanization and 27 articles (4.5%) with other topics. In all these research topics, the largest number of articles was published in the 7th conference. In the last session of the conference, the topics of medical applications, biotechnology and breeding, as well as saffron compounds, have received more attention, so that out of 64, 55 and 11 articles dedicated to this topic in all conferences, 28 (43.7%), 30 (54.5%) and 7 (63.6%) articles were presented in the 7th conference, respectively. New technologies have received special attention from researchers since the 5th conference and have received the largest number of articles (21 articles out of a total of 31 articles, equivalent to 67.8%) in the 7th conference. Among the post harvest issues, the two topics of stigma drying method and identification of fraud and determination of product authenticity have received more attention from researchers in the last session of the conference, and about 50% of the total number of articles on these topics have been presented in this session. Regarding the topic of climate change and organic production, 17 and 9 articles have been published in the total national saffron conferences, respectively, of which 12 and 6 (70.6 and 66.7 %, respectively) are related to the 7th conference. Among the topics related to mechanization, the most attention in all conferences has been paid to mechanized stigma separation. Regarding nutritional management of saffron, 104 articles have been published independently or in combination with other topics (17.3 % of the total articles), of which 49 (47.1 %) were presented in the 7th conference, and among them, the use of new sources of fertilizer and foliar application of nutreints has received more attention in recent years. Of the 45 articles published on irrigation management, 28 (62.2 %) were presented in the last conference, and in recent years, more attention has been paid to the topics of water quality, water requirement, and irrigation methods. The topic of saffron disease identification and management has received 12 papers in all conferences so far, 10 of which (83.3%) were presented in the 7th conference. The most important ecological and agronomic issues that have recently received more attention include the effect of climatic factors on saffron, the allelopathic effects of saffron, crop rotation, pretreatment of corms with growth hormones, and the most important issues that have been considered in most conferences include corm weight and planting density. Some agronomic issues such as planting date, corm planting bed, corm specific propagation, corm storage conditions, and soil physical properties have received less attention from researchers. Indigenous knowledge and agrotourism are also among the issues that, although they have recently received more attention from researchers, have not yet been sufficiently researched. Conclusion: Although numerous researches have been conducted on saffron agronomic issues, this trend should be continued and focused on creating innovation in research and studying less studied topics such as corm storage conditions, identifying optimal levels of nutrients, adaptation to climate change, and crop rotation. The topic of biotechnology has not received sufficient attention from saffron researchers, and research development in this issiue is necessary. بررسی جهت گیری های تحقیقاتی زعفران از حیث شناخت موضوعات جدید پژوهشی، آگاهی از شکاف های تحقیقاتی و ارایة مسیر برای پژوهش های آتی دارای اهمیت است. در این تحقیق، روند پژوهش ها طی هفت دوره برگزاری همایش ملی زعفران (از سال 1367 تا سال 1403) مورد بررسی قرار گرفت. موضوعات پژوهشی به 8 محور اصلی، 17 شاخه و 98 گروه فرعی تقسیم بندی شد. بر اساس نتایج حاصل از هشت محور تحقیقاتی اصلی، از 601 مقاله ارایه شده در همایش های ملی زعفران، تعداد 236 مقاله (39.3 درصد) به موضوع تولید و به زراعی، 90 مقاله (14.9 درصد) به مصارف و کاربردهای زعفران، 77 مقاله (12.8 درصد) به مسایل برداشت و پس از برداشت، 73 مقاله (12.1 درصد) به مسایل اقتصادی، 55 مقاله (9.1 درصد) به ژنتیک، بهنژادی و بیوتکنولوژی، 24 مقاله (4.0 درصد) به آفات و بیماری ها، 19 مقاله (3.2 درصد) به مکانیزاسیون و 27 مقاله (4.5 درصد) به سایر موضوعات تعلق داشتند. در تمامی این محورهای تحقیقاتی بیشترین تعداد مقاله در همایش هفتم منتشر شده است. در خصوص مدیریت تغذیهای زعفران در کل همایشهای ملی تعداد 104 مقاله (17.3 درصد کل مقالات) بهصورت مستقل یا تلفیقی با سایر موضوعات انتشار یافته است. فناوری های نوین از همایش پنجم تا هفتم مورد توجه خاص محققان قرار گرفته است. موضوعاتی مانند تغییر اقلیم، تولید ارگانیک، مدیریت آبیاری، شناسایی و مدیریت بیماری ها، کاربردهای پزشکی، زیست فناوری و به نژادی و نیز ترکیبات زعفران در آخرین دوره برگزاری همایش بیشتر مورد توجه محقان قرار گرفته اند. برخی موضوعات زراعی مانند بستر کاشت بنه، تکثیر و تولید بنه بذری، شرایط ذخیره سازی بنه و خصوصیات فیزیکی خاک، کمتر مورد توجه محققان قرار گرفته اند.

https://jsr.birjand.ac.ir/article_3506_e0126439e08ddfbdf4faa952dc910590.pdf

دانشگاه بیرجند پژوهش‌های زعفران 2345-3869 14 1 2026 05 22 Family Business Branding in the Saffron Industry: Emphasizing Brand Identity Capital Dimensions برندینگ کسب و کارهای خانوادگی زعفران با تاکید بر ابعاد سرمایه هویتی برند 34 56 4081 10.22077/jsr.2026.11262.1304 FA علیرضا روحبخش دانشجوی دکتری، گروه مدیریت، واحد تربت حیدریه، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، تربت حیدریه، ایران. 0009-0003-5832-1077 امیر رحیم پور استادیار، گروه مدیریت، واحد بجنورد، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، بجنورد، ایران. 0000-0002-9685-7863 علی حسین زاده استادیار، گروه مدیریت، واحد تربت حیدریه، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، تربت حیدریه، ایران. 0000-0003-0006-7451 Journal Article 2026 05 11 Introduction: In the contemporary digital marketing landscape, social media platforms have radically transformed the dynamics of value creation and consumer–brand relationships. Family-owned businesses, representing a significant pillar of the global economy, inherently possess unique identity-based intangible assets, such as multi-generational heritage, historical authenticity, long-term commitment, and socioemotional wealth. However, possessing these identity resources does not automatically guarantee a sustainable competitive advantage in highly volatile online markets. Saffron production in Iran is not merely an economic sector; it represents a key component of national identity and cultural heritage. Prominent saffron brands are mostly multi-generational family firms that rely heavily on their heritage. Nevertheless, under intense global competition and the proliferation of digital platforms, these firms face the critical challenge of converting their symbolic assets into active, supportive consumer behaviors. Relying on Social Identity Theory (SIT), this study addresses a significant literature gap in family business branding by developing an integrated framework to explain how brand identity capital influences digital brand ambassadorship through consumer–brand identification. Materials and Methods: This study applies an empirical, quantitative research design utilizing a descriptive-survey method. The target population comprised active followers and consumers of the official Instagram account of "Saharkhiz Saffron," a renowned multi-generational family-owned brand in Iran. Instagram was selected because digital brand ambassadorship primarily manifests within highly interactive social networks. Due to the lack of an official sampling frame of online followers, non-probability convenience sampling was employed. To ensure data validity and high statistical power, a total of 315 usable questionnaires were collected. The sample size adequacy was verified using a G*Power statistical analysis (f² = 0.15, α = 0.05, Power = 0.95, with four predictors), confirming that the collected sample greatly exceeded the required minimum threshold of 129 observations. Measurement scales were adapted from validated international literature and localized for the Iranian market context, consisting of 18 reflective items evaluated on a 5-point Likert scale. Content validity was rigorously confirmed through a panel of three marketing experts, achieving a perfect item-level Content Validity Index (I-CVI = 1.00). Data analysis was conducted using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) via SmartPLS 4 software, utilizing a non-parametric bootstrapping procedure with 5,000 replications to evaluate path coefficients and structural relationships. Results and Discussion: Evaluation of the measurement model demonstrated high internal consistency and reliability, with Cronbach's alpha and composite reliability (CR) values for all constructs exceeding the standard 0.70 threshold. Convergent validity was established as the Average Variance Extracted (AVE) for all variables surpassed 0.50. Discriminant validity was fully supported through both the Fornell–Larcker criterion and the (HTMT) ratio, with all HTMT values remaining safely below 0.85. The structural model analysis revealed robust explanatory power, accounting for 56% of the variance in consumer–brand identification (R² = 0.56) and 40% of the variance in digital brand ambassadorship (R² = 0.40). Global model fit indices indicated an excellent model fit (SRMR = 0.057 < 0.08; NFI = 0.92 > 0.90). The hypotheses testing confirmed that all four dimensions of brand identity capital significantly enhance consumer–brand identification. Value congruence exerted the strongest direct impact (β = 0.33, p < 0.001), followed closely by family brand identity (β = 0.31, p < 0.001), brand heritage and authenticity (β = 0.28, p < 0.001), and perceived quality (β = 0.26, p < 0.001). Most importantly, the central path of the model—the direct effect of consumer–brand identification on digital brand ambassadorship—was highly significant and powerful (β = 0.63, p < 0.001). Regarding direct effects on advocacy, value congruence (β = 0.14), perceived quality (β = 0.12), and family identity (β = 0.11) directly triggered digital ambassadorship. Interestingly, the direct link between brand heritage/authenticity and digital ambassadorship was non-significant (β = 0.09, p = 0.061), indicating that heritage must first be internalized through consumer identification before translating into digital advocacy. Conclusion: This research demonstrates that contemporary family business branding on digital networks must shift from transactional, promotion-based advertising toward relationship-driven, identity-activation strategies. When consumers perceive a strong alignment between their own values and those of a multi-generational family firm, the brand transitions from a mere commercial entity to an active social group embedded in the consumer's self-concept. Consequently, supporting the brand through digital ambassadorship (e.g., generating positive content, defending the brand against online criticism, and active word-of-mouth) becomes an identity-driven action. Saffron family business managers are advised to develop human-centric digital storytelling campaigns that emphasize authentic ancestral roots, transparent ethical farming traditions, and consistent product quality, thereby turning passive followers into loyal online advocates. در عصر رسانه‌های اجتماعی، برندهای خانوادگی برای ایجاد تمایز، اعتماد و تبدیل مشتریان به حامیان فعال برند، نیازمند تقویت سازوکارهای هویتی مؤثر بر رفتارهای دیجیتال مصرف‌کنندگان هستند. در عصر رسانه‌های اجتماعی، برندهای خانوادگی برای ایجاد تمایز، اعتماد و تبدیل مشتریان به حامیان فعال برند، نیازمند تقویت سازوکارهای هویتی مؤثر بر رفتارهای دیجیتال مصرف‌کنندگان هستند. هدف پژوهش حاضر، تبیین نقش نظریه هویت اجتماعی در درک سازوکارهای برندینگ کسب‌وکارهای خانوادگی است. این پژوهش با تمرکز بر برند خانوادگی «زعفران سحرخیز» و دنبال‌کنندگان آن در شبکه اجتماعی اینستاگرام، تأثیر ابعاد هویت برند خانوادگی (هویت خانوادگی، اصالت، میراث، همخوانی ارزش‌ها و کیفیت ادراک‌شده) را بر رفتار سفیرگری دیجیتال از طریق سازۀ هویت‌یابی مصرف‌کننده بررسی کرده است. این پژوهش از نظر هدف کاربردی، از حیث گردآوری داده‌ها توصیفی ـ پیمایشی و از نظر رویکرد تحلیل مبتنی بر مدل‌سازی معادلات ساختاری با رویکرد حداقل مربعات جزئی (PLS-SEM) است. داده‌ها از ۳۵۶ نفر از دنبال‌کنندگان صفحۀ رسمی برند در اینستاگرام گردآوری و با مدل‌سازی معادلات ساختاری مبتنی بر حداقل مربعات جزئی تحلیل شد. یافته‌ها نشان داد هویت‌یابی مصرف‌کننده به‌عنوان سازوکار کلیدی هویت اجتماعی، نقش میانجی معناداری میان ابعاد هویت برند خانوادگی و رفتار سفیرگری دیجیتال ایفا می‌کند. نتایج پژوهش بر اهمیت ایجاد پیوند هویتی با مشتریان توسط برندهای خانوادگی و نقش آن در تبدیل مصرف‌کنندگان منفعل به سفیران وفادار دیجیتال تأکید دارد. این یافته‌ها می‌تواند راهنمای مدیران برندهای خانوادگی حوزه زعفران در توسعۀ استراتژی‌های هویت‌محور در محیط آنلاین باشد.

https://jsr.birjand.ac.ir/article_4081_486c825db2f776da72d0b7a791f45b8f.pdf

دانشگاه بیرجند پژوهش‌های زعفران 2345-3869 14 1 2026 05 22 Assessing the Photosynthetic System Responses of Saffron Plant (Crocus sativus L.) to the Application of Haloxyfop R-methyl Herbicide with and without Adjuvants ارزیابی واکنش‌های سیستم فتوسنتزی گیاه زعفران (.Crocus sativus L) به کاربرد علف‌کش هالوکسی‌فوپ آر متیل با و بدون مواد افزودنی 57 71 3800 10.22077/jsr.2025.10294.1290 FA منصوره شجاعی کارشناسی ارشد، گروه مهندسی تولید و ژنتیک گیاهی، دانشکده کشاورزی، دانشگاه بیرجند، بیرجند، ایران. حسین حمامی دانشیار، گروه مهندسی تولید و ژنتیک گیاهی، دانشکده کشاورزی، دانشگاه بیرجند، بیرجند، ایران.عضو گروه پژوهشی گیاه و تنش‌های محیطی، دانشکده کشاورزی، دانشگاه بیرجند، بیرجند، ایران. 0000-0002-7310-4623 سید وحید اسلامی دانشیار، گروه مهندسی تولید و ژنتیک گیاهی، دانشکده کشاورزی، دانشگاه بیرجند، بیرجند، ایران.عضو گروه پژوهشی گیاه و تنش‌های محیطی، دانشکده کشاورزی، دانشگاه بیرجند، بیرجند، ایران. 0000-0002-5266-7216 سهراب محمودی دانشیار، گروه مهندسی تولید و ژنتیک گیاهی، دانشکده کشاورزی، دانشگاه بیرجند، بیرجند، ایران.عضو گروه پژوهشی گیاه و تنش‌های محیطی، دانشکده کشاورزی، دانشگاه بیرجند، بیرجند، ایران. 0000-0002-7925-3259 Journal Article 2025 10 20 Introduction: Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is an important crop in Iran but is highly vulnerable to weeds due to its weak vegetative growth. Both annual and perennial weeds, are known as problematic weed in saffron fields. The primary weed control method in saffron fields is hand weeding, supplemented by other approaches, including chemical methods, due to the labor-intensive, costly, and time-consuming nature of manual weeding. The addition of adjuvants to herbicides can improve their efficiency in a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable approach. Haloxyfop-R-methyl, an ACCase inhibitor, effectively suppresses grass weed growth. Recent studies have indicated that incorporating adjuvants can enhance the performance of grass-selective herbicides that inhibit acetyl-CoA carboxylase. However, limited research has investigated the efficacy of herbicides combined with adjuvants in saffron cultivation. Previous findings have shown that ACCase inhibitors can reduce photosynthetic activity. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess the response of the saffron photosynthetic system to haloxyfop-R-methyl application, both with and without adjuvants. Materials and Methods: A field experiment was conducted in a four-year-old saffron field in Sarayan (2023) to evaluate how different concentrations of haloxyfop-R-methyl affect saffron’s photosynthetic system. The factorial experiment, arranged in a randomized complete block design, tested four herbicide rates (0, 54, 81, 108 g ai ha⁻¹) and three adjuvants (none, Sitogate oil, and corn oil at 0.5% v/v). Chlorophyll fluorescence was measured 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 days after herbicide application. Visual injury of saffron leaves was evaluated 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, 22, and 25 days after application. Chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and carotenoid contents were determined 25 days after treatment. Data were statistically analyzed using SAS software version 9.4, and mean comparisons were performed using the FLSD test at the 5% significance level. Graphs were prepared using Microsoft Excel. Results and Discussion: The experimental results indicated that the concentration of haloxyfop-R-methyl herbicide, the type of adjuvant, and their interaction had no significant effect on chlorophyll fluorescence. Among the combined treatments, a significant difference was observed only on the tenth day after application at the 5% significance level. The absence of significant effects from the herbicide treatments suggests that saffron (Crocus sativus L.) possesses high tolerance to haloxyfop-R-methyl. This observation is consistent with the herbicide’s mode of action as an acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCase) inhibitor, which primarily targets grassy weeds without directly interfering with photosynthesis. Similar results were reported by Abbaspoor and Streibig (2005), who found that ACCase inhibitors such as clodinafop-propargyl caused minimal and delayed impacts on quantum efficiency in barley and oat. Therefore, haloxyfop-R-methyl can be considered physiologically safe for saffron under the tested conditions. Visual assessments showed no visible injury or only minor damage to saffron leaves at 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, 22, and 25 days after herbicide application, with differences remaining statistically insignificant. These findings confirm that haloxyfop-R-methyl is safe for use in saffron and that the inclusion of adjuvants such as corn oil or Sitogate does not alter the crop’s tolerance. The results are consistent with those of Dear et al. (2003), who emphasized the reliability of visual injury assessments for evaluating herbicide selectivity. The absence of phytotoxic symptoms up to 25 days after spraying indicates that haloxyfop-R-methyl can be used safely in established saffron fields for controlling grass weeds. According to Table 8, increasing the herbicide concentration led to higher pigment content. The highest chlorophyll a (10.11 mg/g FW) and chlorophyll b (7.37 mg/g FW) values were obtained at the full recommended rate, representing increases of 63.2% and 50.6% compared with the untreated control. Carotenoid content also increased by 67% at the full rate, although it did not differ significantly from the 75% treatment. These increases likely reflect improved weed control, resulting in greater light capture and nutrient availability for saffron. Effective weed management reduces interspecific competition and enhances photosynthetic performance, leading to higher pigment accumulation (Christensen et al., 2003). Conclusion: Overall, haloxyfop-R-methyl, at 50%, 75%, and 100% of the recommended rate, either alone or in combination with Sitogit or corn oil, produced no adverse effects on Fv/Fm or visual injury. Instead, the treatments enhanced chlorophyll and carotenoid contents due to improved weed control. The strong agreement among fluorescence, visual assessment, and pigment data demonstrates the robustness of these physiological indicators in evaluating herbicide safety for saffron. These results clearly demonstrate saffron’s tolerance to haloxyfop-R-methyl and confirm the herbicide’s selectivity and safety for the crop. The findings also support the use of chlorophyll fluorescence and pigment analyses as rapid, non-destructive, and cost-effective tools for assessing crop–herbicide interactions (Abbaspoor & Streibig, 2005). Incorporating haloxyfop-R-methyl into saffron’s weed management strategy can therefore improve grass weed control without compromising crop health. Future research should investigate long-term effects on corm growth and saffron yield under various environmental conditions to confirm the consistency of these results. به‌منظور ارزیابی واکنش سیستم فتوسنتزی گیاه زعفران به کاربرد علف‌کش هالوکسی فوپ آر متیل، آزمایشی در مزرعه چهارساله زعفران در منطقه سرایان در سال 1401 به‌صورت فاکتوریل بر پایه طرح بلوک‌های کامل تصادفی انجام شد. تیمارهای آزمایش شامل غلظت علف‌کش در چهار سطح (صفر، 54، 81 و 108 گرم ماده مؤثره در هکتار) و ماده افزودنی در سه سطح (بدون ماده افزودنی، روغن سیتوگیت و روغن ذرت) بود. پارامترهای اندازه گیری شده شامل کلروفیل فلورسانس (2، 4، 6، 8 و 10 روز بعد از کاربرد علف‌کش)، ارزیابی خسارت چشمی ( 7، 10، 13، 16، 19، 22 و 25 روز بعد از کاربرد علف‌کش) و مقدار کلروفیلa و b و کارتنوئیدها (25 روز بعد از کاربرد علف‌کش) بود. نتایج نشان داد که غلظت علف‌کش، ماده افزودنی و اثر متقابل آن‌ها اثر معنی‌داری بر کلروفیل فلورسانس نداشتند و تنها در اندازه‌گیری روز دهم اختلاف معنی‌دار در سطح 5 درصد مشاهده شد. ارزیابی خسارت چشمی نیز خسارت بسیار خفیف یا عدم خسارت را در تمام روزها نشان داد که این اختلاف معنی‌دار نبود. بیش‌ترین میزان کلروفیلa و b و کارتنوئیدها در تیمار 100 درصد توصیه‌شده علف‌کش به ترتیب 63.2، 50.55 و 66.98 درصد افزایش نسبت به شاهد عدم کاربرد مشاهده شد. به‌طور کلی، کاربرد این علف‌کش در غلظت توصیه‌شده نه تنها باعث کاهش رنگدانه‌ها نشد، بلکه به‌دلیل کنترل علف‌های هرز و کاهش رقابت، منجر به افزایش محتوای رنگدانه‌ها شد. اگرچه مکانیسم این علف‌کش بازدارنده سنتز اسیدهای چرب است، ولی از واکنش‌های سیستم فتوسنتزی می‌توان برای ارزیابی خسارت این علف‌کش بر زعفران استفاده کرد.

https://jsr.birjand.ac.ir/article_3800_63c6598e9ddd2961e7dfa4d4eb8144a1.pdf

دانشگاه بیرجند پژوهش‌های زعفران 2345-3869 14 1 2026 05 22 Evaluation of Production Status, Energy Efficiency Indicators and Plant Knowledge Management for Saffron Systems in Herat Province, Afghanistan ارزیابی وضعیت تولید، شاخص‌های کارایی انرژی و مدیریت دانش گیاه زعفران در استان هرات -افغانستان 91 72 3801 10.22077/jsr.2025.10018.1287 FA رامین نظریان دانشیار، گروه آگرونومی، دانشکده کشاورزی، دانشگاه هرات، هرات، افغانستان. 0000-0001-8968-2359 مهدی نصیری محلاتی استاد، گروه آگروتکنولوژی، دانشکده کشاورزی، دانشگاه فردوسی مشهد، مشهد، ایران. 0000-0003-0357-1733 سرور خرم دل دانشیار، گروه آگروتکنولوژی، دانشکده کشاورزی، دانشگاه فردوسی مشهد، مشهد، ایران. 0000-0003-2995-4898 Journal Article 2025 09 03 Introduction: Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is one of the most significant medicinal plants with high economic value in the agriculture of Herat Province, Afghanistan. Over the past two decades, saffron cultivation has expanded in Herat, with the Afghan government promoting it as an alternative crop to opium poppy (Papaver somniferum L.) and encouraging farmers to grow this valuable product. Saffron is among the most valuable agricultural products that can contribute to job creation. Key reasons for investing in this sector in Afghanistan include achieving food security, ensuring sustainable income, facilitating product exports, and improving the livelihoods of rural households. Analyzing energy consumption in agricultural ecosystems plays a crucial role in enhancing managerial perspectives and improving the quality of planning and decision-making in agricultural management and development. Consequently, energy management has been introduced as a strategy for maximizing the utilization of energy resources. Additionally, energy indicators serve as suitable metrics for assessing performance and efficiency in agricultural ecosystems. Examining the trends of energy inputs and outputs in agricultural systems aims to optimize energy consumption and reduce production costs by minimizing energy expenses. To date, no information has been published regarding the energy balance of agricultural products in Afghanistan, making this study the first of its kind focusing on the energy balance in saffron cultivation within the country. Therefore, there is a necessity to conduct research examining the saffron agricultural ecosystem with a focus on energy efficiency in Herat Province, considering the traditional agricultural system prevalent there. Materials and Methods: To study the saffron agricultural ecosystem and energy consumption indicators in farms over a six-year period, data were collected through questionnaires and analyzed accordingly. Each questionnaire contained questions regarding input and output energy in saffron cultivation. A total of 50 questionnaires were completed through face-to-face interviews with farmers. Results and Discussion: The results indicated that in 2023, Herat Province had an area under saffron cultivation of 7,952 hectares, yielding 22,240 kilograms, which accounted for 95.6% of the total saffron production in the country. The highest energy consumption during the first year of saffron cultivation was attributed to corms (33.57% of total energy input). Over six years of saffron cultivation, the energy consumption was distributed among chemical fertilizers, irrigation water, organic fertilizers, human labor, electricity, and fuel, accounting for 24.4%, 17.04%, 15.04%, 6.88%, 1.00%, and 1.57% of total energy input, respectively. The energy efficiency of saffron based on stigmas was calculated at 0.001, with an energy productivity of 0.00007 kilograms per megajoule consumed. The specific energy and net energy values for saffron production in Afghanistan were determined to be 14,969 megajoules per kilogram and -132,577 megajoules per hectare, respectively. Saffron cultivation in Afghanistan is traditionally practiced on small plots of land, with all operations such as plowing, land preparation, transporting and distributing chemical and organic fertilizers, planting corms, maintenance, harvesting flowers and stigmas, and collecting corms in the final year being carried out manually. Due to the high costs of fuel and electricity in Afghanistan, their share in saffron production has decreased to minimal levels (1.57% and 1% of total energy input). Therefore, the lower proportion of direct energy inputs (26.49% of total energy input) in the saffron agricultural ecosystem can be attributed to the low share of fuel and electricity consumption. Conversely, the higher share of renewable energy (57.49% of total energy input) indicates the relative sustainability of the saffron agricultural system in Herat Province. Conclusion: The significance of saffron cultivation in Afghanistan arises from various aspects such as low water requirements, higher income generation compared to other crops, family-based farming practices, job creation for rural communities, reduced reliance on machinery, prevention of migration, serving as an alternative crop to opium poppy, and its potential for foreign exchange earnings and non-oil export development. Although the ratio of produced to consumed energy in saffron agriculture is low, this research demonstrates that saffron is cultivated ecologically on small plots of land in Herat using traditional methods. Given its economic value, saffron plays a more significant role than other crops in the region's agricultural pattern, contributing to job creation and improving the livelihoods of rural residents. زعفران ( .Crocus sativus L ) یکی از عمده ترین گیاهان دارویی با ارزش اقتصادی بالا در زراعت استان هرات افغانستان محسوب می شود. این مطالعه با هدف بررسی وضعیت تولید و مطالعه شاخص های مصرف انرژی در مزارع زعفران در طـی دورهای شش سـاله، از طریق پرسشنامه جمعآوری و مورد تجزیه و تحلیل قرار گرفت. نتایج نشان داد که استان هرات در سال 2023 (1402) با سطح زیر کشت 7952 هکتار و تولید 22240 کیلوگرم زعفران خشک، 95.6 درصد از کل تولید زعفران را در کشور افغانستان بخود اختصاص داده است. بیشترین انرژی مصرفی در سال اول مربوط به بنه مادری (33.57 درصد از کل انرژی ورودی) بود. در حالیکه بیشترین انرژی‌های مصرفی طی شش سال به ترتیب مربوط به کودهای شیمیایی، آب آبیاری، کود دامی، نیروی انسانی، سوخت و الکتریسیته با 24.4، 17.04، 15.04، 6.88، 1.57 و 1.00 درصد از کل انرژی های ورودی بود. کارایی مصرف انرژی بر اساس کلاله 0.001، بهره وری انرژی 0.00007 کیلوگرم به ازای مصرف هرمگاژول، انرژی مخصوص و انرژی خالص نیز به ترتیب برابر با 14969.1مگاژول بر کیلوگرم و 132577.1- مگاژول بر هکتار محاسبه شد. اگرچه نسبت انرژی تولیدی به مصرفی در زراعت زعفران در کشور افغانستان نسبتاً پایین است، ولی نتایج این تحقیـق نـشان داد که زعفران در استان هرات به صورت اکولوژیک در زمینهای با مساحت کم و به شیوه سنتی کشت میشود. با اینوجود، به دلیل ارزآوری، نقش اقتصادی بالاتری نسبت بـه دیگـر گیاهـان در الگـوی کـشت منطقه داشته و باعث اشتغال زایی و بهبود معیشت روستاییان میگردد.

https://jsr.birjand.ac.ir/article_3801_95323660ed2124450caaac2c46b5ed90.pdf

دانشگاه بیرجند پژوهش‌های زعفران 2345-3869 14 1 2026 05 22 Temporal and Spatial Analysis of Meteorological Drought Variations During the Saffron Growing Season using the SPI and SPEI Indices in Khorasan Razavi Province تحلیل زمانی و مکانی تغییرات خشکسالی هواشناسی در فصل رشد زعفران با استفاده از شاخص‌های SPI و SPEI در استان خراسان رضوی 4195 10.22077/jsr.2026.11431.1306 FA علی شاهی دکترای آب و هواشناسی، گروه جغرافیای طبیعی، دانشگاه محقق اردبیلی، اردبیل، ایران. 0000-0001-9607-4132 برومند صلاحی استاد آب و هواشناسی، گروه جغرافیای طبیعی، دانشکده علوم اجتماعی، دانشگاه محقق اردبیلی، اردبیل، ایران. 0000-0003-4826-6185 Journal Article Introduction: The cultivation of saffron is highly important due to the distinctive characteristics of this valuable crop. Since Iran is the main global production center of saffron and a large proportion of farmers’ livelihoods, especially in northeastern Iran, depend on this plant, evaluating its various climatic conditions is essential. Given the economic importance of this crop, special attention must be paid to its growth conditions during the critical season, particularly autumn. Among the most important meteorological variables affecting saffron growth are precipitation and temperature; a decrease in precipitation and an increase in temperature can lead to drought and, consequently, serious damage to saffron plants. Materials and Methods: In this study, monthly temperature and precipitation data for eight synoptic meteorological stations over a 20-year period (2004–2023) were used, and the data were obtained from the Meteorological Organization of Iran. The study area was Razavi Khorasan Province, located in northeastern Iran, within the geographical coordinates of 33.5° to 37.5° N latitude and 56° to 61.5° E longitude. To analyze the effect of drought on saffron, a 3-month period was calculated for both drought indices because this period precisely overlaps with autumn, the active growth period of saffron. The index calculations were performed using R software. In this study, autumn was considered as the three months of September, October, and November, according to the World Meteorological Organization recommendations. Trend graphs were plotted for each station and each index over the two decades, and the trends and their significance were evaluated using the Mann–Kendall slope. Drought with an intensity lower than −1.5 in the SPI/SPEI indices leads to reduced bud formation, decreased flowering, and reduced corm growth. Therefore, all values lower than −1.5 were extracted for the autumn season and presented using a heatmap. Based on the number of extreme events at each station, the study area was classified into three categories—low-risk, moderate-risk, and high-risk—in terms of autumn drought risk for saffron. Finally, to determine the spatial pattern of autumn drought in Razavi Khorasan Province, the 20-year average of the two indices was calculated for each station. Results and Discussion: Drought conditions at the eight synoptic stations were evaluated over the 20-year period based on the Mann–Kendall slope and significance levels. A negative slope indicated a downward trend (intensifying drought), while a positive slope indicated an upward trend (weakening drought). Drought risk classification based on the number of events (0–1: low-risk, 2–4: moderate-risk, 5 or more: high-risk) revealed that Mashhad and Neyshabur were high-risk stations with 7 and 5 events, respectively. In contrast, Kashmar and Torbat Jam were classified as low-risk stations with only one event each. Zoning maps of both indices showed that eastern parts of Razavi Khorasan Province experienced more severe drought conditions compared to the western parts. In other words, autumn moisture stress was lower in the western region, making it more suitable for saffron cultivation. Trend analysis indicated that the SPI index did not exhibit any statistically significant trends at any station, whereas the SPEI index showed significant trends at six stations: three stations at the 99.9% significance level and three at the 99% significance level. This highlights the critical role of temperature and evapotranspiration in intensifying drought across the region. The highest number of extreme drought events occurred at the Mashhad station (7), while the lowest occurred at Kashmar and Torbat Jam stations (1 each). Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that the eastern parts of the study area are more sensitive and susceptible to drought, while the western parts, owing to lower drought risk, provide more favorable conditions for saffron cultivation. The results further suggest that precipitation-deficit droughts were more destructive in terms of intensity than thermal–evaporative droughts. این مطالعه با هدف ارزیابی زمانی و مکانی تغییرات خشکسالی هواشناسی در فصل رشد زعفران با استفاده از شاخص‌های SPI ,SPEI در استان خراسان رضوی واقع در ایران در دوره آماری 2004 تا 2023 انجام شد. برای این منظور، از 8 ایستگاه همدیدی منتخب به‌عنوان نماینده منطقه مورد مطالعه استفاده شد. داده‌های بارش و دما در مقیاس ماهانه برای ایستگاه‌های زمینی از سازمان هواشناسی دریافت شد. نمودارهای روند برای هر ایستگاه و هر شاخص در 2 دهه ترسیم شدند. خشکسالی با شدت کم‌تر از مقدار 1.5- در شاخص‌های SPI/SPEI در فصل پاییز استخراج شد. خروجی به‌صورت نمودار هیت‌مپ ترسیم گردید. با توجه به تعداد رخداد حدی در هر ایستگاه، طبقه‌بندی منطقه مورد مطالعه به 3 طبقه (کم‌ریسک، متوسط و پر‌ریسک) از بابت ریسک خشکسالی پاییزه برای زعفران به دست آمد. محاسبات نشان داد که، شاخص SPI فاقد روند معنی‌دار آماری در تمامی ایستگاه‌ها بود، اما شاخص SPEI روند معنی‌داری را در 6 ایستگاه نشان داد که 3 ایستگاه با سطح معنی‌داری 99/9 درصد و 3 ایستگاه دیگر با سطح معنی‌داری 99 درصد تأیید شدند. این موضوع بیانگر نقش مؤثر مؤلفه‌های دما و تبخیر در تشدید خشکسالی‌های منطقه است. نتایج نشان داد که نواحی شرقی منطقه مطالعه شده استعداد و حساسیت بیشتری نسبت به بروز خشکسالی دارند و در مقابل، نواحی غربی منطقه مورد مطالعه به دلیل ریسک کمتر خشکسالی، شرایط مناسب‌تری برای کشت زعفران را نشان می‌دهند. نتایج حاکی از آن است که خشکسالی‌های ناشی از کمبود بارش از نظر شدت، مخرب‌تر از خشکسالی‌های حرارتی-تبخیری بوده‌اند.

https://jsr.birjand.ac.ir/article_4195_a5e308070bd6dd3cc56283f2313522de.pdf