Articles
Characterization of soils used for saffron production in the main saffron producing zone in Morocco
Article number
1184_19
Pages
131 – 136
Language
English
Abstract
Moroccan local products or ‘terroirs’ arouse a real passion in recent years, both nationally and internationally.
Among these products appears a very diverse set of aromatic and medicinal plants with specially saffron.
Our interest in studying this crop comes from its economic importance since saffron spice is a noble and rare and is considered the most expensive spice in the world.
Saffron cultivation in Morocco is located in the regions of Taliouine and Tazhnakht in the mountainous area of the Moroccan Atlas at the joining of the High Atlas and the Anti-Atlas mountain ranges.
This crop has been practiced for centuries and is one of the specificities of the territory of this region.
This valuable product has many medicinal properties.
The study carried out in this work falls within the framework of a research program conducted at INRA and which aims to study the impact of the environment on the qualitative and quantitative yield of saffron in the southern region of Morocco.
In fact, several physico-chemical parameters have been determined for different types of soils collected from different saffron sites in the Taliouine region.
To do this, 33 sites were sampled and characterized by determining pH, organic matter, phosphorus, potassium, exchange capacity, texture, salinity, and total limestone.
The study showed that soils used for saffron have a loamy fine texture with an alkaline pH that promotes the culture of saffron.
Relatively high levels of organic matter explain the high adsorbent power of nutrients in the soil under saffron, particularly phosphorus and potassium.
Regarding salinity, soils belong to the non-saline soil class which is suitable for growing saffron.
Among these products appears a very diverse set of aromatic and medicinal plants with specially saffron.
Our interest in studying this crop comes from its economic importance since saffron spice is a noble and rare and is considered the most expensive spice in the world.
Saffron cultivation in Morocco is located in the regions of Taliouine and Tazhnakht in the mountainous area of the Moroccan Atlas at the joining of the High Atlas and the Anti-Atlas mountain ranges.
This crop has been practiced for centuries and is one of the specificities of the territory of this region.
This valuable product has many medicinal properties.
The study carried out in this work falls within the framework of a research program conducted at INRA and which aims to study the impact of the environment on the qualitative and quantitative yield of saffron in the southern region of Morocco.
In fact, several physico-chemical parameters have been determined for different types of soils collected from different saffron sites in the Taliouine region.
To do this, 33 sites were sampled and characterized by determining pH, organic matter, phosphorus, potassium, exchange capacity, texture, salinity, and total limestone.
The study showed that soils used for saffron have a loamy fine texture with an alkaline pH that promotes the culture of saffron.
Relatively high levels of organic matter explain the high adsorbent power of nutrients in the soil under saffron, particularly phosphorus and potassium.
Regarding salinity, soils belong to the non-saline soil class which is suitable for growing saffron.
Authors
A. Zouahri, N. El Madani, M. Lage, A. Douaik, H. Alilou
Keywords
saffron, soil characterization, Taliouine
Groups involved
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