Abstract

The present study intended to investigate the effect of summer irrigation (on two dates of July 06 and August 06) and weed control methods (through managing the application of three Sencor herbicide, Treflan herbicide and mechanical control methods) on the growth and yield of saffron in a five-year old saffron farm in the Educational Research Station of Agriculture in Islamic Azad University, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Isfahan, Iran in the crop year of 2014–15. Based on the results, summer irrigation of August significantly increased the yield of dry stigmas of saffron by 80% in saffron farm, while the summer irrigation of July did not have a significant effect on increasing the saffron yield. The results of the present study showed that saffron summer irrigation of August increased the shoot dry weight and yield of saffron crocus through faster and stronger stimulation of saffron corms and subsequently increased the total number of corms per unit area as well as the number of large corms. Furthermore, the application of both sencor and treflan herbicides could significantly control saffron weeds, respectively, by 1 kg/ha and 2.5 l/ha within twice summer irrigation in the first and second summer irrigation dates and increased the total number of produced corms and large saffron corms per unit area, which would play a significant role on increasing the saffron yield in the subsequent years. In finale, it can generally be concluded that single summer irrigation in August and twice application of sencor herbicide by 1 kg/ha within the first and second irrigation in the saffron farm can have a significant effect on increasing the saffron yield in the same year and subsequent years through increasing the total number of corms and number of large saffron corms. This method is recommended for the current study area and other areas with similar conditions.