Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1 Masters Student Horticultural Science (Medicnal plants), College of Agriculture, University of Birjand, Iran
2 Associate Professor, Department of Horticultural Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Birjand, Birjand, Iran.
3 University of Birjand
Abstract
Introduction: Agricultural saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is a monocotyledonous plant, a geophyte, and belongs to the Iridaceae family. Saffron is an annual plant, but it is used as a perennial plant in agriculture. Consumption of appropriate amounts of organic inputs has positive effects on the vegetative characteristics of saffron, which is attributed to the better allocation of food elements to its organs. Animal manures do not have one-sided effects, but on the one hand, they help to provide food and on the other hand, they improve the structure of the soil. Therefore, the use of organic fertilizers to increase or at least maintain soil fertility and increase yield is inevitable. The use of elemental sulfur is also used as an acidifying agent to increase the ability to absorb nutrients in calcareous soils. Based on this, due to the reasonable price and availability of sulfur, as well as calcareousness and low organic matter in most of the soils of the country, this research was conducted to investigate the effect of sulfur and sheep manure on vegetative growth and yield of saffron in Sarayan region.
Materials and Methods: This study was conducted to investigate the effect of sheep manure and sulfur on vegetative growth and yield of saffron during 2018-2019 in the Sarayan region in a factorial manner and a randomized complete block design with three replications. Experimental treatments included sheep manure at four levels (0, 20, 40, and 60 t. ha-1) and sulfur at three levels (0, 200, and 400 kg. ha-1). After plotting, sheep manure and sulfur were added to the respective plots in the amount mentioned in the treatments and mixed with the soil with a shovel and the plots were leveled again. Simultaneously with the beginning of flowering (late November 2018), the flowers of each plot
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