Comparison of Nano and micro Chelated iron fertilizers on quantitative yield and assimilates allocation of saffron (Crocus sativus L.)

In order to evaluate the effects of Nano and micro Chelated iron fertilizer on yield of saffron, an experiment was conducted as factorial based on a randomized complete block design with three replications under field condition in Research Farm of Shahed University during growing season of 2010-2011. Factors included two iron fertilizers (Nano chelated and ordinary Chelated) and three levels of fertilizer (such as 0, 5 and 10 kg.ha- 1 ). Results showed that the effects of iron fertilizers and fertilizers were significant on length and number of leaves, number of flower, total weight of corm, fresh weight of flower, main corm weight, number of corm, dried stigma yield and main corm diameter. As amount of these fertilizers increased the saffron yield and attributed traits. Application of 10 kg.ha-1 Nano Chelated iron fertilizer increased dried stigma yield (59%), fresh weight of flower (69%), number of flower (51%), number of leaves (62%), length of leaves (69%), main corm diameter (33%) and corm total weight (42%) to control. Application of 5 kg.ha-1 Nano Chelated iron fertilizer increased number of corm 56% compared to control. Fe concentration did not affect by kind of Iron fertilizer however, it decreased as amount of iron fertilizer increased. Total Fe uptake increased up to 11 % in Nano fertilizer compared to micro fertilizer. So, application of 5 kg Nano Chelated iron fertilizer and 10 kg ordinary Chelated fertilizer had the same effects on most characteristics, this indicates that Nano Chelated iron fertilizer is more efficient than common Chelate.