Effect of ۱۰-year continuous saffron cultivation on physical and chemical properties of soil

The effect of ۱۰-year continuous saffron cultivation on physical and chemical properties of a silty clay loam soil was investigated in a research farm of College of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz (۵۲ º ۳۳ʹ E Longitude and ۲۹º ۳۶ʹ N latitude), Iran. This farm was irrigated with different regimes (۱۰۰% of saffron's potential evapotranspiration (ETp), ۷۵%ETp, ۵۰%ETp) including rain fed treatment under two irrigation methods (basin and furrow irrigation). The results showed that the values of electrical conductivity, sodium adsorption ratio, Arsenic, Boron and soil bulk density of soil in the root zone increased significantly, but the final infiltration rate decreased significantly compared to the original soil. The value of pH in ۱۰۰%ETp and ۷۵%ETp treatments decreased and in ۵۰%ETp and rain fed treatments increased compared to the original soil. Corms under high irrigation treatment had more weight up to a ۶-year cultivation. However, after that, the corm weight declined to levels equal to or less than the low irrigation treatment cases. The number of total corms increased up to ۶ years of cultivation and decreased after that. So, the continuous saffron cultivation causes some undesirable change in soil chemical and physical properties, which become pronounced after ۶ years of cultivation.

کلیدواژه ها:

Basin and furrow irrigation ، Potential evapotranspiration ، Undesirable change in soil