Articles
Evaluation of the effects of saffron-cumin intercropping ratios on quality and yield under semi-arid conditions
Article number
1184_26
Pages
179 – 184
Language
English
Abstract
Medicinal and aromatic plants are looked upon not only as a source of affordable health care products but also as a source of income.
As demand for organic products is increasing rapidly in the world market, adoption of ecological farming approaches would be a feasible option.
The objective of this study was to determine the intercropping effect of cumin with saffron, with the aim to select a suitable density of cumin for row intercropping in saffron production.
This experiment was conducted based on randomized complete block design with three replications at the Agricultural Research Station, College of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad during 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 growing seasons.
Additive intercropping series were 100% saffron+20% cumin, 100% saffron + 40% cumin, 100% saffron + 60% cumin, 100% saffron + 80% cumin, 100% saffron + 100% cumin and their monoculture.
The results showed that the effect of additive intercropping series of cumin was significant (p≤0.01) on flower yield and dried weight of stigma of saffron.
The highest dried weight of stigma was observed in saffron monoculture with 2.77 g m-2. Among the additive intercropping series with cumin, the maximum was obtained from 100% saffron + 60% cumin with 1.98 g m-2. However, crocin, picrocrocin and safranal contents were not significantly affected by intercropping ratios with cumin.
As demand for organic products is increasing rapidly in the world market, adoption of ecological farming approaches would be a feasible option.
The objective of this study was to determine the intercropping effect of cumin with saffron, with the aim to select a suitable density of cumin for row intercropping in saffron production.
This experiment was conducted based on randomized complete block design with three replications at the Agricultural Research Station, College of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad during 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 growing seasons.
Additive intercropping series were 100% saffron+20% cumin, 100% saffron + 40% cumin, 100% saffron + 60% cumin, 100% saffron + 80% cumin, 100% saffron + 100% cumin and their monoculture.
The results showed that the effect of additive intercropping series of cumin was significant (p≤0.01) on flower yield and dried weight of stigma of saffron.
The highest dried weight of stigma was observed in saffron monoculture with 2.77 g m-2. Among the additive intercropping series with cumin, the maximum was obtained from 100% saffron + 60% cumin with 1.98 g m-2. However, crocin, picrocrocin and safranal contents were not significantly affected by intercropping ratios with cumin.
Authors
S. Khorramdel, A. Koocheki, P. Rezvani Moghaddam
Keywords
additive intercropping series, ecological farming, crocin, medicinal plant, safranal
Groups involved
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