Saffron Blooms Beyond Soil: A Thorough Review on Soilless Corm Production Strategies
Sree Hasthini V
*
Department of Horticulture, Horticulture College and Research Institute, Periyakulam, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TN), India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is a highly valuable spice and medicinal plant known for its potent aromatic compounds. Due to its scarcity and susceptibility to various challenges, including adverse weather, soil conditions, and adulteration. There is a growing interest in soilless cultivation methods such as hydroponics to enhance saffron production. This article discusses the potential benefits of soilless cultivation, the structure for cultivating corms in hydroponic systems, the choice of growing media, nutrient solutions, electrical conductivity (EC), pH, and environmental conditions, including light spectrum modulation, to optimize saffron corm production.
Keywords: Corm production, hydroponics, Saffron, soil less cultivation