The effect of potassium, zinc and iron foliar appli cation on the production of saffron (Crocus sativa )

To study the effect of Potassium (K), Zinc (Zn) and Iron (Fe) foliar application on saffron (Crocus sa tiva L.), two experiments were conducted in 2010 and 2011 in Bam and Gonabad. The experimental design was a randomiz ed complete block with four replications. The type of elements (K, Zn and Fe) and dose of application (0, 1 and 3 lit/ha) were the treatments of these experiments. The exper iments were conducted under well-watered condition. Results showed the effects of elements on leaf length, LAI, stigma dry weight, crocin, picrocrocin and safrana l were significant. Fe showed higher amounts in mentioned traits than K and Zn. Also the highest amount of th ese traits were obtained from high dose foliar application (3 lit/ha). On the other hand traits measured in Gonab ad experiments were more than Bam. Although combined a nalysis of variance showed that the difference betw een years was not significant. Also results showed that altho ugh there is the possibility of saffron planting in Bam, but the amount of saffron yield, safranal and picrocrocin i n this region was less than Gonabad region. Neverth eless the amount of crocin was not significant in these regio ns.