Study of the Phenology of Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) Grown in Soilless Media under Protected Environment
Maliqa Majid *
College of Agricultural Engineering & Technology, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar Campus, J&K, India.
Junaid N. Khan
College of Agricultural Engineering & Technology, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar Campus, J&K, India.
Haleema Bano
Division of Environmental Sciences, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar Campus, J&K, India.
Arshad H. Mughal
Directorate of Research, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar Campus, J&K, India.
Faheeem Ullah Khan
Division of Floriculture and Landscape Architecture, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar Campus, J&K, India.
Rohitashw Kumar
College of Agricultural Engineering & Technology, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar Campus, J&K, India.
Immad A. Shah
Division of Agricultural Statistics, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology of Kashmir, J&K, India.
Basharat Bashir
Saffron Research Station, Dussu, Pampore, India.
Mehraj U. Din Dar
Carl and Melinda Helwig Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Kansas State University, Kansas, USA.
Latief Ahmad
Agromet Cell, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Traditionally grown in soil, saffron cultivation has been plagued by limited arable land, variable climate conditions, and soil-borne diseases. Phenological studies of the crop during each of its growth stages are crucial for mitigating the detrimental consequences of climate change, to which saffron crop is extremely susceptible. These also help in anticipating the future farming systems that involve crop cultivation methods, irrigation, field, and crop management. In this study, we assess the adaptability of saffron to soilless cultivation. In order to evaluate the performance of saffron grown in soilless media, a crop experiment was carried out over the course of two years, beginning in 2020 and continuing into 2021. Bulbs were planted in plastic polytunnels under two experimental treatments viz. soil-based (PS1) and soilless (PS2), supplemented with adequate nutrients. To evaluate the performance of saffron in soilless culture and to compare it with protected soil-based cultivation, saffron growth indicators were measured a total of twenty-five times at intervals of around twenty days during the entire growing period. The study of growth indices demonstrated that the PS2 (protected soilless cultivation) outperformed PS1 (protected soil-based cultivation) in terms of growth of organs (foliage, roots, mother bulbs, daughter bulbs) and biomass accumulation. In light of these findings, it has been demonstrated that soilless cultivation can be an effective method for the production of saffron.
Keywords: Protected cultivation, soilless cultivation, soil-based cultivation, saffron, growth indicators, phenology