Separate and combined effects of Super Absorbent Polymers (SAP), organic (Seaumic), and nano-fertilizers (Lithovit-Forte and nano-chelate Super Plus ZFM) on the performance of small and medium-sized saffron (Crocus oreocreticus) corms
W. Hourani, Z. El Sebaaly, Z. Allaw, V. Koutev, Y. N. Sassine
Abstract: Amelioration in saffron production and quality has been reported as a result of using organic fertilizers, nanofertilizers and Super Absorbent Polymers (SAP). The study investigated the separate and combined effects of various fertilizers (Seaumic, nano-chelate Super Plus ZFM++, Lithovit®-Forte) and SAP on the performance of small-sized (SS: 4-6 g) and medium-sized (MS: 6-8 g) saffron corms. Fertilizers applied with SAP hastened leaf emergence by 4.3-10.8 days for SS corms compared to their use without SAP, and flowering date by 11.8-20.6 days in SS corms and 16.3-22.8 days in MS corms, compared with control. Harvest was the earliest in MS/Seaumic and MS/Seaumic/SAP (20.8 and 20.0 DAP, respectively). Compared to control, leaf number of MS corms increased by 5.3 and 3.8 because of Lithovit®-Forte applied with and without SAP, respectively.
Seaumic and Lithovit®-Forte showed superior effect on leaf length than nano-chelate Super Plus ZFM, whether applied with or without SAP. Improvement in flower number per m2 reached 65.1% in MS/Seaumic/SAP compared to control. Without SAP, Seaumic and nano-chelate Super Plus ZFM improved dry stigma yield by 43.9 and 33.7% in SS-corms and 60 and 50.7% in MS-corms, respectively, and with SAP, they improved it by 71.4 and 72.3% in SS-corms and 90.4 and 79.6% in MS-corms, respectively. The highest fresh stigma yield, dry stigma yield, yield of daughter corms, and number of daughter corms were in MS/Seaumic/SAP (2.01 g/m2, 1.11 g/m2, 850 g/m2, and 73.5, respectively). The majority of treatments affected crocin and picrocrocin contents (higher than control), but not safranal. Saffron production can be optimized by applying Seaumic or Nano-chelate Super Plus ZFM with SAP.
Keywords: Crocus oreocreticus; nano and organic fertilizers; replacement corms; saffron derivatives; SAP; stigma yield
Citation: Hourani, W., El Sebaaly, Z., Allaw, Z., Koutev, V. & Sassine, Y. N. (2025). Separate and combined effects of Super Absorbent Polymers (SAP), organic (Seaumic), and nano-fertilizers (Lithovit®-Forte and nano-chelate Super Plus ZFM++) on the performance of small and medium-sized saffron (Crocus oreocreticus) corms. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., 31(1), 139–149.
| References: (click to open/close) | Agayev, Y. M. O., Fernandez, J. A. & Zarifi, E. (2009). Clonal selection of saffron (Crocus sativus L.): the first optimistic experimental results. Euphytica, 169(1), 81–99.
Aghhavani-Shajari, M., Rezvani Moghaddam, P., Koocheki, A., Fallahi, H. R. & Taherpour- Kalantar, R. (2015). Evaluation of the effects of soil texture on yield and growth of saffron (Crocus sativus L.). Saffron Agronomy and Technology, 2(4), 311–322.
Ahmadi, F., Aminifard, M. H., Khayat, M. & Samadzadeh, A. R. (2017). Effects of different humic acid levels and planting density on antioxidant activities and active ingredients of saffron (Crocus sativus L.). Saffron Agronomy and Technology, 5(1), 61-71.
Ahmadi, F., Aminifard, M. H., Khayyat, M. & Samadzade, A. R. (2018). Effects of humic acid and corm density on saffron yield and yield components in the second year. Saffron Agronomy and Technology, 6(2), 197–207.
Akbarian, M. M., Sharifabad, H. H., Noormohammadi, G. H. & Kojouri, F. D. (2012). The effect of potassium, zinc and iron foliar application on the production of saffron (Crocus sativa). Annals of Biological Research, 3(12), 5651–5658.
Alipoor -Miandehi, Z., Mahmoodi, S., Behdani, M. A. & Sayyari, M. H. (2015). Effect of bio manure and chemical fertilizers and corm weight on the corm characteristics of saffron (Crocus sativus). Plant Products Technology (Agricultural Research), 15(2), 13–24.
Amiri, M. E. (2008). Impact of animal manures and chemical fertilizers on yield components of saffron (Crocus sativus L.). American-Eurasian Journal of Agriculture and Environmental Science, 4(3), 274–279.
Amirnia, R., Bayat, M. & Tajbakhsh, M. (2014). Effects of nano fertilizer application and maternal corm weight on flowering at some saffron (Crocus sativus L.) ecotypes. Turkish Journal of Field Crops, 19(2), 158.
Armak, A. A., Feizi, H. & Alipanah, M. (2021). Influence of nitrogen, acid humic and nitrogen, phosphorus-soluble bacteria on saffron (Crocus sativus L.) corm reproduction and flower production of Torbat Heydarieh landrace. Iranian Journal of Seed Science and Technology, 10(2), 73-84.
Arslan, N., Gürbüz, B., Ipek, A., Özcan, S., Sarihan, E., Daeshian, A.M. & Moghadassi, M.S. (2007). The effect of corm size and different harvesting times on Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) regeneration. Acta Horticulturae, 739, 113-117.
Azarpour, E., Asghari, J., Bozorgi, H. R. & Kamalpour, G. (2013). Foliar spraying of Ascophyllum nodosum extract, methanol and iron fertilizers on fresh flower cover yield of saffron plant (Crocus sativus L.). International Journal of Agriculture and Crop Sciences (IJACS), 5(17), 1854-1862.
Azizi, G., Musavi, S. G., Seghatoleslami, M. J. & Fazeli Rostampour, M. (2020). The effect of foliar application of seaweed extract, urea and micronutrient fertilizers on performance and its components of saffron (Crocus sativus L.). Journal of Saffron Research, 8(1), 141-159.
Baghai, N. & Maleki Farahani, S. (2013). Comparison of Nano and micro Chelated iron fertilizers on quantitative yield and assimilates allocation of saffron (Crocus sativus L.). Journal of Saffron Research, 1(2), 156-169.
Çavuşoğlu, A., Erkel, E. İ. & Sülüşoğlu, M. (2009). Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) studies with two mother corm dimensions on yield and harvest period under greenhouse condition. American-Eurasian Journal of Sustainable Agriculture, 3(2), 126-129.
Chen, Y., Camps-Arbestain, M., Shen, Q., Singh, B. & Cayuela, M. L. (2018). The long-term role of organic amendments in building soil nutrient fertility: a meta-analysis and review. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems, 111(2), 103-125.
Chhipa, H. (2017). Nanofertilizers and nanopesticides for agriculture. Environmental Chemistry Letters, 15, 15-22.
Cid-Pérez, T. S., Nevárez-Moorillón, G. V., Ochoa-Velasco, C. E., Navarro-Cruz, A. R., Hernández-Carranza, P. & Avila-Sosa, R. (2021). The relation between drying conditions and the development of volatile compounds in saffron (Crocus sativus). Molecules, 26(22), 6954.
de Juan, J. A., Córcoles, H. L., Muñoz, R. M. & Picornell, M. R. (2009). Yield and yield components of saffron under different cropping systems. Industrial Crops and Products, 30(2), 212-219.
de Santiago, A., Quintero, J.M., Carmona, E. & Delgado, A. (2008). Humic substances increase the effectiveness of iron sulfate and vivianite preventing iron chlorosis in white lupin. Biology and Fertility of Soils, 44(6), 875-883.
Dourandish, A., Ramezani, M. & Aminizadeh, M. (2019). Investigation of the effective factors on use of chemical fertilizers in saffron farms (Case study: Gonabad country). Saffron Agronomy and Technology, 7(3), 359-376.
Ebrahimi, M., Pouyan, M. Shahi, T., Fallahi, H. R., Hoseini, S., Ragh Ara, H. & Branca, F. (2022). Effects of organic fertilizers and mother corm weight on yield, apocarotenoid concentration and accumulation of metal contaminants in saffron (Crocus sativus L.). Biological Agriculture and Horticulture, 38(2), 73-93.
Fallahi, H. R., Feli, A. & Salari-Nasab, S. (2014). Study the effects of super absorbent on growth of saffron. In: Proceeding of the 3rd National Conference on the Scientific Achievements of saffron. November, Torbat Heydariyeh University, Iran.
Fallahi, H. R., Paravar, A., Behdani, M. A., Aghhavani-Shajari, M. & Fallahi, M. J. (2014). Effects of saffron corm and leaf extracts on early growth of some plants to investigate the possibility of using them as associated crop. Notulae Scientia Biologicae, 6(3), 282-287.
Fallahi, H. R., Kalantari, R. T., Shajarim, A. & Soltanzadeh, M. G. (2015). Effect of super absorbent polymer and irrigation deficit on water use efficiency, growth and yield of cotton. Not. Sci. Biol., 7(3), 338-344.
Fallahi, H. R., Zamani, G., Mehrabani, M., Aghhavani-Shajari, M. & Samadzadeh, A. (2016). Influence of superabsorbent polymer rates on growth of saffron replacement corms. Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology, 19(1), 77-84.
Fallahi, H. R., Zamani, G., Aghhavani-Shajari, M., Samadzadeh, A., Branca, F. & Mehrabani, M. (2017). Saffron flower and stigma yield changes in response to application of different levels of super absorbent polymer. Journal of Medicinal plants and By-product, 6(2), 145-151.
Fallahi, H. R. & Mahmoodi, S. (2018). Influence of organic and chemical fertilization on growth and flowering of saffron under two irrigation regimes. Saffron Agronomy and Technology, 6(2), 147-166.
Gerdakaneh, M., Amini, E. & Khan Ahmadi, M. (2020). Effects of soil and foliar spraying application of humic acid on qualitative and quantitative properties of saffron. Journal of Saffron Research, 8(1), 71-84.
Ghobadi, F., Ghorbani Javid, M. & Sorooshzadeh, A. (2015). Effects of planting date and corm size on flower yield and physiological traits of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) under Varamin plain climatic conditions. Saffron Agronomy and Technology, 2(4), 265-276.
Gholami, M., Kafi, M. & Khazaei, H. R. (2017). Study of the relations of sink and source in saffron by means of correlation coefficients under different irrigation and fertilization levels. Saffron Agronomy and Technology, 5(3), 195-210.
Golzari Jahan Abadi, M., Behdani, M. A., Sayyari Zahan, M. H. & Khorramdel, S. (2017). Effect of some fertilizer sources and mother corm weight on growth criteria and qualitative traits of saffron (Crocus sativus L.). Journal of Saffron Research, 4(2), 172-186.
Gresta, F., Napoli, E., Ceravolo, G., Santonoceto, C., Strano, T. & Ruberto, G. (2017). Stigmas yield and volatile compounds of saffron (Crocus sativus) in a late sowing under greenhouse with two nitrogen rates. Acta Horticulturae, 1184, 293-299.
Heydari, Z., Besharati, H. & Maleki Farahani, S. (2014). Effect of some chemical fertilizer and biofertilizer on quantitative and qualitative characteristics of Saffron. Saffron Agronomy and Technology, 2(3), 177-189.
International Standard, "Saffron-Specification" ISO 3632- 1:1993(E), International Organization for Standardization, Switzerland. (1993).
Islam, M. R., Xue, X., Mao, S., Ren, C., Eneji, A. E. & Hu, Y. (2011). Effects of water‐saving superabsorbent polymer on antioxidant enzyme activities and lipid peroxidation in oat (Avena sativa L.) under drought stress. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 91(4), 680-686.
José Bagur, M., Alonso Salinas, G. L., Jiménez-Monreal, A. M., Chaouqi, S., Llorens, S., Martínez-Tomé, M. & Alonso, G. L. (2017). Saffron: An old medicinal plant and a potential novel functional food. Molecules, 23(1), 30.
Kafi, M., Rashed-Mohassel, M. H., Koocheki, A. & Mollafilabi, A. (2006). Saffron, Production and Processing. Ferdowsi University of Mashhad press, Iran. Persian with English Summary.
Kamel, P. (2018). Effect of time and amount of total fertilizer containing seaweed extract on growth characteristics of aerial parts and saffron. University of Sabzvar, Iran.
Khorramdel, S., Gheshm, R., Amin-Ghafori, A. & Esmaielpour, B. (2013). Evaluation of soil texture and superabsorbent polymer impacts on agronomical characteristics and yield of saffron. Journal of Saffron Research, 1(2), 120-135.
Khorramdel, S., Mokhtari, M. & Latifi, H. (2022). The impact of various soil fertilizers on yield and growth criteria of saffron: A meta-analysis of field studies. Saffron Agronomy and Technology, 10(2), 129-147.
Khoshpeyk, S., Sadrabadi Haghghi, R. & Ahmadian, A. (2022). The effect of irrigation water quality and application of silicon, nanosilicon and superabsorbent polymer on the yield and active ingredient of saffron (Crocus sativus L.). Journal of Saffron Research, 10(1), 64-83.
Kirmani, N. A., Sofi, J. A., Bhat, M. A. & Ansar-Ul-Haq, S. (2014). Sustainable saffron production as influenced by integrated nitrogen management in Typic Hapludalfs of NW Himalayas. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, 45(5), 653–668.
Koocheki, A. & Teimouri, S. (2014). Effect of age of farm, corm size and manure fertilizer treatments on morphological criteria of Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) under Mashhad conditions. Applied Field Crops Research, 27(105), 148-157.
Koocheki, A., Fallahi, H. R., Amiri, M. B. & Ehyaei, H. R. (2015). Effects of humic acid application and mother corm weight on yield and growth of saffron (Crocus sativus L.). Agricultural Ecology, 7(4), 425-442.
Koocheki, A. & Seyyedi, S. M. (2016). Effects of corm size, organic fertilizers, Fe-EDTA and Zn-EDTA foliar application on nitrogen and phosphorus uptake of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) in a calcareous soil under greenhouse conditions. Notulae Scientia Biologicae, 8(4), 461-467.
Kothari, D., Thakur, R. & Kumar, R. (2021). Saffron (Crocus sativus L.): Gold of the spices - a comprehensive review. Horticulture, Environment, and Biotechnology, 62(5), 661-677.
Kumar, R., Singh, V., Devi, K., Sharma, M., Singh, M. K. & Ahuja, P. S. (2008). State of art of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) agronomy: A comprehensive review. Food Reviews International, 25(1), 44-85.
Lopez-Corcoles, H., Brasa-Ramos, A., Montero-Garcia, F., Romero-Valverde, M. & Montero-Riquelme, F. (2015). Short communication. Phenological growth stages of saffron plant (Crocus sativus L.) according to the BBCH Scale. Revista de Investigacion Agraria, Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research, 13(3), e09SC01.
MacDonald, J. E., Hacking, J., Weng, Y. & Norrie, J. (2012). Root growth of containerized lodgepole pine seedlings in response to Ascophyllum nodosum extract application during nursery culture. Canadian Journal of Plant Science, 92(6), 1207-1212.
Mahmoodi, F., Mahdinezhad, N., Fakheri, B. A. & Ahmadian, A. (2021). Effect of silver nanoparticles and corm weight on physiological and morphological traits of saffron (Crocus sativus) under Sistan climatic conditions. Journal of Iranian Plant Ecophysiological Research, 16(61), 45-63.
Maleki Farahani, S. & Aghighi Shahverdi, M. (2015). Evaluation the effect of nano-iron fertilizer in compare to iron chelate fertilizer on qualitative and quantitative yield of saffron. Journal of Crops Improvement, 17(1), 155-168.
Mashayekhi, K., Kamkar, B. & Soltani, A. (2006). The Effect of corm weight and environmental temperature on flowering behavior of saffron (Crocus sativus). In: Proceedings of 2nd International Symposium on Saffron Biology and Technology, October, 28–30.
Mathew, B. (1977). Crocus sativus and its allies (Iridaceae). Plant Systematics and Evolution, 128(1), 89-103.
McGimpsey, J. A., Douglas, M. H. & Wallace, A. R. (1997). Evaluation of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) production in New Zealand. New Zeal. J. Hort. Sci., 25(2), 159-168.
Menia, M., Iqbal, S., Zahida, R., Tahir, S., Rh, K., Aa, S. & Hussain, A. (2018). Production technology of safron for enhancing productivity. J. Pharmacogn. Phytochem., 7(1), 1033-1039.
Mollafilabi, A. & Khorramdel, S. (2016). Effects of cow manure and foliar spraying on agronomic criteria and yield of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) in a six-year-old farm. Saffron Agronomy and Technology, 3(4), 237-249.
Moraga, Á. R., Rambla, J. L., Ahrazem, O., Granell, A. & Gómez-Gómez, L. (2009). Metabolite and target transcript analyses during Crocus sativus stigma development. Phytochemistry, 70(8), 1009-1016.
Nassiri Mahallati, M., Koocheki, A., Boroumand Rezazadeh, Z. & Tabrizi, L. (2007). Effects of corm size and storage period on allocation of assimilates in different parts of saffron plant (Crocus sativus L.). Iranian Journal of Field Crops Research, 5(1), 155-165.
Nehvi, F. A., Lone, A. A., Khan, M. A. & Maqhdoomi, M. I. (2010). Comparative study on effect of nutrient management on growth and yield of saffron under temperate conditions of Kashmir. Acta Horticulturae, 850, 165-170.
Osmani Roudi, H. R., Masoumi, A., Hamidi, H. & Razavi, S. A. (2015). Effects of first irrigation date and organic fertilizer treatments on Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) yield under Khaf climatic conditions. Saffron Agronomy and Technology, 3(1), 33-25.
Ramezani, A., Aroiee, H., Azizi, M. & Ahmadian, A. (2020). Assessing the effect of irrigation management on economic yield and production of active ingredients of saffron medicinal plant (Crocus sativus L.) by application of organic fertilizer and nanocomposite superabsorbent polymers. Saffron Agronomy and Technology, 8(1), 3-18.
Rezaie, A., Feizi, H. & Moradi, R. (2019). Response of quantitative and qualitative characteristics of Saffron flower to the last irrigation cut-off time and various fertilizer resources. Saffron Agronomy and Technology, 7(1), 3-25.
Rostami, M., Talarposhti, R. M., Mohammadi, H. & Demyan, M. S. (2019). Morpho-physiological response of Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) to particle size and rates of zinc fertilizer. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, 50(10), 1250-1257.
Seghatoleslami, M. & Sabzekar, E. (2016). Saffron responses to summer irrigation and nano zinc oxide. In: V International Symposium on Saffron Biology and Technology: Advances in Biology, Technologies, Uses and Market 1184, November, 115-118.
Sepaskhah, A. R. & Yarami, N. (2009). Interaction effects of irrigation regime and salinity on flower yield and growth of saffron. The Journal of Horticultural Science and Biotechnology, 84(2), 216-222.
Shariatmadari, Z., Shoor, M., Rezvani Moghaddam, P., Tehranifar, A. & Ahmadian, A. (2018). Study the effects of organic and chemical fertilizers on replacement corms and flower characteristics of Saffron (Crocus sativus L.). Saffron Agronomy and Technology, 6(3), 291-308.
Shokrpour, M. (2019). Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) breeding: opportunities and challenges. Advances in plant breeding strategies. Industrial and Food Crops, 6, 675-706.
Tavakkoli, A., Sorooshzade, A. & Ghorbani Javid, M. (2014). Effect of buds removing and corm size on growth characteristics and yield of saffron (Crocus sativus L.). Saffron Agronomy and Technology, 1(2), 69-84.
Temperini, O., Rea, R., Temperini, A., Colla, G. & Rouphael, Y. (2009). Evaluation of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) production in Italy: Effects of the age of saffron fields and plant density. Journal of Food, Agriculture & Environment, 7(1), 19-23.
Vida, M., Akhtar, K. & Ebrahim, A. (2012). Effect of different drying methods on saffron (Crocus sativus L.) quality. Iran. J. Chem. Chem. Eng., 13(2), 85-89.
Wu, L., Liu, M. & Liang, R. (2008). Preparation and properties of a double-coated slow-release NPK compound fertilizer with superabsorbent and water-retention. Bioresource Technology, 99(3), 547-554.
Zarch, M. S., Khajoeinezad, G. R. Maghsoudi, A. A. & Mohammadinejad, G. (2020). Effects of applied water and superabsorbent polymer on the growth index and yield in saffron. Environmental Stresses in Crop Sciences, 13(3), 903-914.
Zhang, A., Shen, Y., Cen, M., Hong, X., Shao, Q., Chen, Y. & Zheng, B. (2019). Polysaccharide and crocin contents, and antioxidant activity of saffron from different origins. Ind. Crops Prod., 133, 111–117. |
|
| Date published: 2025-02-25
Download full text 
