Document Type : Original Article

Authors

• Seid Ehsan Moosavi
• Mohsen Movahhedi Dehnavi
• Amin Salehi

Abstract

Since apple trees have no economical yield during the first 10 years, saffron is a suitable plant for growing between apple trees. The growth period of saffron is in the time that apple tree is dormant, so there is not any interference between saffron and farming operation of apple trees. So in order to study the effects of sowing patterns and densities on saffron yield under the apple trees, an experiment carried out in an apple garden of Semirom region in 2012 and 2013. This experiment was a factorial based on randomized complete block design with three replications. The first factor included of three sowing paterns (two, three and four rows) and second factor included of three sowing spaces on each rows (20, 25 and 30 cm). Results showed that maximum and minimum stigma and flower dry matter obtained from four rows pattern and 20 cm plant space and tow rows and 30 cm plant space, respectively. Maximum leaf dry matters, corm number and corm yield, in first year, obtained from four rows and 20 cm plant space treatment. Generally yield of second year was two times more than the first year for most of the measured traits. Finally with respect to results of the first and second years, applying of high density, four rows and 20 cm plant space, can be a proper  ption for saffron production under apple trees in Semirom region.

Keywords

• Corm yield
• Leaf dry matter
• Planting space
• Stigma yield