Comparative Study of Sprouting Response in Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) to Agronomic Treatments in Controlled and Ambient Conditions

Abstract

Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is a high-value spice crop with a complex growth cycle and sensitivity to environmental factors. This study looks at how saffron corms respond to various agronomic treatments in two different growing environments: controlled (growth chamber) and ambient (indoor room). This experiment was conducted at advanced research station for saffron and temperate spices dassu pampore SKUAST –K. The experiment was laid out using factorial completely randomized design. The research aims to evaluate the impact of corm weight- with three levels; W1: 8-10g ,W2:10 -14g , W3: > 14 g , tunic removal- with three levels T1:0 %, T2:50 % and T3:100%  and corm lifting with three levels; C1- ist june:120days dark period, C2: 20 june- 90 days dark period ,C3:25  july – 70 days dark period on number of days to 50% sprouting. The result revealed that C3T3W3 exhibited superiority for early 50 % sprouting for both conditions over years than other treatment combinations. Meanwhile corm weight 8-10 g, 0 % tunic removal and corm lifting at 1 june having 120 days dark period takes more number of days to 50 % sprouting.