Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is one of the economic and revenue generating crops in Khorasan province, Iran. In order to evaluate the impacts of different mushroom compost levels and corm densities on growth and reproductive characteristics of saffron, two experiments were conducted as factorial based on randomized complete block design with three replications, at the Agricultural Research Greenhouse, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran, during growing seasons of 2009-2010 and 2010-2011. Treatments were three levels of mushroom compost (0, 60 and 120 t.ha-1) and three corm densities (50, 100 and 150 corm per m2). Criteria such as number of daughter corm, flower number and stigma weight of saffron were measured. The results indicated that the simple effects of mushroom application rate and corm density were significant on number of daughter corm, flower number and stigma weight of saffron. Interaction effects between different treatments weren’t significant on any trait of saffron. By increasing mushroom compost application up to 60 t.ha-1 enhanced number of corm daughter, flower number and stigma yield during two years of experiment. The highest stigma yield at the first and the second years were observed in 150 corms.m-2 with 0.27 and 0.65 kg.ha-1, respectively.

Keywords