The Influence of Soil Physical and Chemical Properties on Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) Growth, Yield and Quality

摘要: Soil physical and chemical properties play a central role in plant growth, influencing the availability of air, nutrients, water. The aim this two-year study was to evaluate effect soil texture (pH, electrical conductivity, organic carbon, matter, total, active lime) on saffron (Crocus sativus L.) yield, quality. Corms were planted pots filled with seven different textures obtained mixing an increasing quantity (33% 66%) sand clay (S1) loam (S2) compared full (100%) sandy as control (S7). A randomized complete block design comprising types (S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, S6, S7) replicated three times used. results showed that highest flower number (320.3 n m−2), stigma yield (2.0 g daughter corm production (7.9 kg horizontal diameter (3.1 cm) derived from S3 S4 soils. These characterized by sandy-loam texture, not very calcareous, sub-alkaline neutral pH, low content matter between 5.46 8.67 kg−1, lime 21.25 26.25 kg−1. According International Organization for Standardization (ISO) references, although all spice samples belonged first qualitative category, S1, S2 soils recorded value coloring power (290.5, 289.1, 287.6 A1%1cm 440 nm, respectively). values bittering (109.2 257 nm) aromatic (26.6 330 reached soil. Positive correlations found both color aroma total calcium carbonate. In conclusion, assessment conditions is particularly important obtain best performance terms corms well traits.