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Effect of split foliar fertilisation on the quality and quantity of active constituents in saffron ( Crocus sativus L.)
Author(s) -
RabaniForoutagheh Mehdi,
Hamidoghli Yousef,
Mohajeri Seyed Ahmad
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of the science of food and agriculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1097-0010
pISSN - 0022-5142
DOI - 10.1002/jsfa.6506
Subject(s) - safranal , crocus sativus , crocin , fertilisation , corm , horticulture , crocus , taste , chemistry , mathematics , botany , biology , food science , biochemistry , reproductive technology , gene , embryogenesis
BACKGROUND Saffron ( Crocus sativus L.) is one of the most expensive medicinal and aromatic plants in the world. Due to the excessive application of chemical fertilisers in saffron farms and alkalinity of most cultivated soils, split foliar fertilisation has been suggested. The primary goal of this study was to propose split foliar fertilisation as a technique in increasing the quality and quantity of active constituents in saffron. HPLC analysis was used to quantify the most important saffron components; crocins (colour), picrocrocin (taste), and safranal (odour). This study was carried out in Kashmar, Iran, to determine the effect of split foliar fertilisations on quality and quantity of saffron in 2011 and 2012. A split‐plot design experiment based on randomised complete block with three replications was conducted to examine three fertiliser types in three regimes for split foliar fertilisation . RESULTS Statistical analysis showed that split foliar fertilisation and the fertiliser type significantly increased saffron yield, number of flowers and crocin; whereas it decreased the picrocrocin and safranal content of the saffron stigmas ( P < 0.05) . CONCLUSION Overall, split foliar fertilisation increased saffron yield and colour but decreased the taste and the odour of saffron. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry