Document Type : Original Article

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Abstract

In order to study the effects of organic and chemical fertilizers on corm morphological and agronomic traits of saffron (Crocus sativus L.), an experiment was conducted based on a randomized complete block design with four replications at Torbat-e- Heydarieh during growing season 2011-2012. Treatments included organic fertilizer consisting 20 t.ha-1 of municipal waste compost, 40 t.ha-1 of cow manure, chemical fertilizers (with 50, 25 and 25 kg.ha-1 that are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, respectively) and control (without fertilizer). Results indicated that effect of fertilizer treatment was significant on the growth indices of saffron; however, the effective fertilizer kind is different in each of corm weights. The highest total weight of corm, weight and number of >8 g corm, number of 4-8 g corm and was shown in cow manure fertilizer. The highest total number of corm and weight and number of less than 1 g corm was obtained in chemical fertilizer treatment and length and width leaf. The highest weight of 1-4 g corm was shown in municipal waste compost fertilizer treatment.

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