Combating the Effects of Salinity on Saffron (Crocus sativus) Performance and Growth with Nano-sized Cow Manure Fertilizers

Iran's agricultural landscape confronts significant challenges from excessive groundwater extraction, leading to escalating salinity levels that threaten saffron yield. This study investigates the effectiveness of nano-sized cattle manure fertilizers in mitigating salinity stress in saffron cultivation. Nano-sized particles (mean diameter ۴۵ ± ۵ nm, >۹۰% particles below ۱۰۰ nm) were produced using ball milling and characterized through scanning electron microscopy and particle size distribution analysis. The experiment employed a randomized complete block design with three replications (n=۳۶, α=۰.۰۵, power=۰.۸۵), testing four irrigation water salinity levels (freshwater, ۱.۷۵, ۳.۵, and ۵ mS/cm) and three fertilizer treatments (nano-sized cattle manure, conventional cattle manure, and control) in field conditions at Torbat Heydarieh County, Iran during ۲۰۱۹-۲۰۲۰ growing seasons. Results indicate that higher irrigation water salinity reduces saffron yield by ۳۹% while incorporating cattle manure fertilizers results in a ۲۷% increase, and nano-fertilizer applications enhance yield by ۵۱.۸% (p<۰.۰۱). Furthermore, both treatments improve electrical conductivity thresholds by ۱۸.۵% and ۴۳%, respectively, and significantly reduce soil bulk density by ۲۳% and ۳۱%, respectively (p < ۰.۰۱). The nano-sizing process reduced fertilizer half-life from ۳۴ to ۹ weeks, enabling more efficient nutrient availability [۳۴]. Cost-benefit analysis indicates a ۲.۳-fold return on investment for nano-fertilizer application compared to conventional methods, despite higher initial costs. While long-term environmental impacts require further investigation, this study advocates for adopting nano-sized cattle manure fertilizers as a sustainable and economically viable approach to address the challenges posed by salinity in saffron cultivation, particularly in regions facing increasing groundwater salinity issues.

کلیدواژه ها:

Bulk density ، Electrical conductivity ، Nano-fertilizer ، saffron yield ، soil properties