Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) growth and yield as influenced by organic farming practices

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out to study effect of organic manures on growth, yield and corm production of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) under Karewa condition of Kashmir Himalaya. The different organic manures and their combinations significantly affected vegetative, floral and yield attributes of saffron. Floral attributes of saffron were also significantly affected by different organic manure treatments and recorded maximum value for pistil length (4.19 and 4.13 cm), pistil fresh weight (40.21 and 42.00 mg) and pistil dry weight (8.01 and 8.05 mg) in T13 (33.33% FYM+ 33.33% vermicompost+ 33.33% poultry manure) during both years. Flowers number/m2 (48.27 and 55.21) and saffron yield (3.84 and 4.44 kg/ha) was observed highest in treatment T13 (33.33% FYM+ 33.33% vermicompost+ 33.33% poultry manure) followed by T11 (25% FYM+ 25% vermicompost + 50% poultry manure) with flowers number/m2 (45.27 and 50.55) and saffron yield (3.60 and 4.09 kg/ha) as against lowest in T14 control. Highest total saffron yield and corm yield (8.28 kg/ha and 10.05 t/ha) was found in T13 (33.33% FYM+ 33.33% vermicompost+ 33.33% poultry manure) which was statistically at par (7.69 kg/ha and 9.64 t/ha) with T11 (25% FYM+ 25% vermicompost + 50% poultry manure) and lowest was recorded (2.92 kg/ha 7.12 t/ha) in T14 control, respectively. Treatment T13 (33.33% FYM+ 33.33% vermicompost+ 33.33% poultry manure) produced highest B:C ratio 4.24 followed by 3.98 in T11 (25% FYM+ 25% vermicompost + 50% poultry manure) and lowest 2.63 in T14 control.