hello Sir
The cultivation of saffron needs an extreme climate; hot and dry weather in summer and cold in winter
Saffron flower yield is highly dependent on corm density and corm size. Traditionally, saffron is grown on raised beds to allow good drainage and easy access for picking. Corms are planted out during their dormant period in summer.
Optimal corm quantity per hectare is 13-15 tons, which is about 600- 700 thousand corms with an average weight of 20-22 g
each (45-48 corms/kg).
u can cultivate in 2 x 2 m raised beds with rows 20 cm apart.
There the planting depth is about 15 cm and about 3 tons of corms are used per hectare.
corms are planted 7.5-10 cm apart, in rows 15-20 cm apart.
Recommended planting depths for corms vary from 7.5-10 cm to 15-22 cm.
The crop is grown on the same land for 6 - 9 years after which the calcareous earth needs to be recharged with nutrients.
To guard against possible fungal or bacterial diseases before planting, the corms were dipped for 5 minutes in a solution of 20 g
Benlate® and 10 g Captan® mixed in 10 litres of water.
In traditional saffron culture, large amounts of farm yard manure were applied to the saffron fields before planting, and typically 20-30 tons per hectare are incorporated during cultivation.
Annual fertiliser applications are beneficial and a base dressing of 80 kg P/ha and 30 kg K/ha followed by a split application
of 20 kg N/ha in autumn and again immediately after flowering is recommended.
Saffron flowers in the autumn, about 40 days after planting, and continues for 30-40 days, depending on the weather. The flowering period of each plant may last up to 15 days. Rain 10-15 days before flower picking results in excellent flowering and high production, whereas under drought conditions, small flowers with small stigmas can be expected. A cold period or a late planting can retard flowering.
Corm size has a large effect on the production of flowers per corm. Large corms (>45 g) can produce up to 12 flowers per corm, while more average sized corms (20- 30 g) produce six flowers per corm.
Flowers are usually picked daily in the morning after the dew has evaporated but before flowers wither.
After the separation of the stigmas from the flowers, it is essential to dry the flower heads immediately. Drying experiments show that drying at temperatures up to 110oC can be used. The critical issue is the length of drying time (e.g. at 110oC for 2 minutes).
Brightness of colour is aided by quick high temperature drying. Slow drying gives a poor quality product. Another method is to use a dehydrator at 48oC for 3 hours. Irrespective of the drying method, it is important not to over dry. A final dry matter
close to 10% moisture is adequate for long-term storage.
The size of individual stigmas and the amount of style collected influence the total yield and quality of saffron.
Between 70 000 and 200 000 flowers (0.3-1 g each) are needed to produce 1 kg of saffron.
life cycle goes upto 220 days
About 150 flowers are needed to obtain 1 g of dry stigmas.
The quality of saffron is dependent on its colouring power (crocin concentration), odour (safranal) and taste (picrocrocin). The best quality saffron has a high safranal content. Saffron is dry, glossy and greasy to the touch when freshly dried, turning dull and brittle with age. It is easily bleached if not stored in the dark, and also stores better under conditions of low temperature and low relative humidity.
Cost benefit analysis of saffron cultivation depending upon productivity ranges between 1:0.69–1:1.39. Cost input in cultivation of saffron is very high labor component accounts for 47 % and inputs 53 %.
pls contact
Department of Horticulture & FOO D Processing,
Circuit House,
Dehradun (Uttarakhand) INDIA
Horticulture Mission for North East & Himalayan States, Uttarakhand
E-mail:
missionhortiuk@gmail.com
Ph: 0135-2754961
