PJB-2020-100
RESPONSE OF SAFFRON (CROCUS SATIVUS L.) TO CORM SIZE AND PLANT AND ROW SPACING UNDER RAINFED CONDITIONS OF QUETTA, BALOCHISTAN
Mahpara Fida Ahmed
Abstract
Saffron flower production and stigma yield with respect to corms size and spacing were determined by conducting two experiments at Balochistan Agriculture Research and Development Center (BARDC) Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan during 2015-2016. The experiments were laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design under the rainfed Conditions of Quetta, Balochistan. In one experiment, three treatments of corm sizes viz: big (8-11g), medium (5-7g) and small (less than 4g) were used. While in the second experiment, five treatments of row to row and plant to plant distance/spacing viz: T1= 6 inches, T2= 8 inches, T3= 10 inches, T4= 12 inches and T5= 14 inches were used. The results indicated that only big corms produced the flowers while medium and small corms failed to produce flowers. Big corm emerged out in less (46) days, survived higher (95.33 %) with a maximum leaf height (25.32 cm), higher number of leaves/plant (7.26) and higher number of daughter corms (6.33). However, the fresh and dry weight of stigma of flowers produced by big corms was recorded as 0.0354 and 0.0075g, respectively. The results of row to row and plant to plant distance showed non-significant differences among the parameters studied except for total flower production where the highest production (162.3) was recorded in 6 inches spacing. The results also indicated that corms with a weight of 8-11 g are suitable for sowing while below 8 g are not suitable for flower production of saffron.
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