EFFECTS OF NANO FERTILIZER APPLICATION AND MATERNAL CORM WEIGHT ON FLOWERING AT SOME SAFFRON (Crocus sativus L.) ECOTYPES

To develop saffron planting in Urmia, West Azerbaijan, Iran, a split-split plot experiment based on CRBD was carried out in the Urmia University's research farm for two years (2013-14). Nanofertilizers (Fe, P, K and nofertilizer (control)) as main plots, saffron ecotypes (Mashhad, Torbat-Heydarieh, Torbat-jam, Gonabad, Ghaen and Birjand) as subplots and maternal corm weight (6, 8, 10 and 12 g) as sub-sub plots were considered. Throughout the two years of the study, results showed significant differences between nanofertilizers levels, saffron ecotypes, maternal corm weight and their interactions in terms of all flowering traits. Results highlighted the importance of the nanofertilizers on improving saffron yield. In addition, it was also clear that Fe, P and K nanofertilizers all had positive effects on the saffron flowering. The results also illustrated that the high yield ecotypes Torbat-Heydarieh and Mashhad in Urmia region were due to similar climatic conditions of these regions. These results emphasized the importance of the mother corm weight on increasing saffron flowering was much better than both the nanofertilizer and saffron ecotype. As the mother corm weight increases from 6 to 12 grams, all the studied traits, including dry saffron yield and flower number also increased, by 5.17 times and 4.4 times, respectively. The results of stepwise regression and correlation coefficients noted that flower number, dry and fresh flower weight were the most effective traits on dry saffron yield. In total, it was concluded that saffron flowering traits are strongly influenced by environmental conditions and farm management. Therefore, the correct choice of saffron ecotypes, nanofertilizer and maternal corm weight are vital factors in farm management and economic saffron production.