The effect of Applying Zinc Sulfate, Humic Acid, and Folic Acid Enriched with Amino Acids on the Growth and Yield of Saffron Plant

Yousefpour, Afsaneh; Farajzadeh Memari Tabrizi, Elnaz

doi:10.22077/jsr.2024.8196.1242

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Assistant Professor, Department of Horticultural Science, Tabriz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran.

² Associate professor, Department of Agronomy, Malekan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Malekan, Iran.

https://doi.org/10.22077/jsr.2024.8196.1242

Abstract

Introduction: Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is one of the most valuable medicinal plants globally, known for its culinary, medicinal, and economic importance. The yield and quality of saffron are influenced by several agronomic and environmental factors. Among these, nutrient management plays a critical role in enhancing plant growth and productivity. The use of organic compounds such as humic and folic acids has gained attention due to their potential to improve plant health, nutrient uptake, and stress resistance. Additionally, micronutrients like zinc are essential for various biochemical processes in plants, affecting overall growth, chlorophyll synthesis, and reproductive success. Recent studies suggest that the combined application of organic acids and micronutrients can synergistically enhance crop performance. This study investigates the effects of humic acid, folic acid, and zinc sulfate on key growth, physiological, and reproductive traits of saffron to identify the most effective treatment combinations for improving saffron yield and quality.

Materials and Methods: In this study, the studied treatments are humic acid (no use of humic acid, use of humic acid and use of humic acid enriched with amino acids), folic acid (no use of folic acid, use of folic acid and use of folic acid enriched with amino acids). amino) and zinc sulfate (no application of zinc sulfate, application of zinc sulfate in the amount of 3 kg/ha and application of zinc sulfate in the amount of 6 kg/ha) on growth, flower production and quality characteristics of saffron essential oil. This experiment was carried out in two years in a factorial manner based on a randomized complete block design in three replications in the fields of the Islamic Azad University of Malkan branch. The treatments were applied as soil application every two years after planting.

Results and discution: This study examined the effects of humic acid, folic acid, and zinc sulfate on saffron plant growth over two years. The results showed that the highest plant height, 14.33 cm and 14.2 cm, was recorded in the second year with the treatments of humic acid + folic acid + zinc sulfate at 6 kg/ha and humic acid enriched with amino acids + folic acid enriched with amino acids without zinc sulfate. Compared to untreated plants, these treatments increased height by 64% and 62%, respectively. Similar results were observed in other growth traits, with humic and folic acids enriched with amino acids, along with zinc sulfate, yielding the most positive effects, especially in the second year. The application of enriched humic acid increased leaf number by 28.3%, while regular humic acid resulted in a 12% increase. The dry weight of aerial parts showed no significant difference between the two treatments, but leaf number, surface area, and dry weight were all positively influenced by these treatments. Zinc sulfate also had a significant impact, increasing leaf surface area by 46% in the second year when combined with humic acid. The study highlighted that zinc sulfate at 6 kg/ha, enriched humic acid, and folic acid enriched with amino acids led to the highest chlorophyll content and improved nutrient uptake, especially nitrogen and phosphorus. Additionally, the treatments positively impacted the reproductive traits of saffron, such as flower number and stigma weight, with humic acid enriched with amino acids having the greatest effect. Folic acid, when enriched with amino acids, significantly increased crocin content, while both humic and folic acids improved picrocrocin levels. The study concludes that enriched humic and folic acids, combined with zinc sulfate, have the most substantial effects on saffron's vegetative and reproductive traits.

Conclusion: These results show that the combination of humic and folic acid treatments enriched with amino acids and zinc sulfate can effectively affect the growth and quality traits of saffron, especially the number of flowers and stigma weight.

Keywords

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