Mixed Application of some Herbicides With Organic and Inorganic Base Fertilizers in Saffron (Crocus sativus L.)

Document Type : Research Article

Author

Majid Abbaspoor

Department of Plant Protection, Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center of Khorasan Razavi Province, AREEO, Mashhad, Iran

10.22067/jpp.2026.93361.1229

Abstract

Introduction
Saffron (Crocus sativus L.), due to its weak and lack of root system (in early spring), rendering its nutritional management critical. NPK fertilizers with a higher phosphorus and potassium content are essential to promote flower production and overall plant health. A foliar spray of a good and balanced micronutrient fertilizer including copper, zinc, and iron components are also nessasery to improve the quality and quantity of saffron flowers. Autumn-germinating weeds are the most dominant weeds grown in saffron fields in Iran. In our previous study on chemical weed control in saffron fields, herbicides including haloxyfop-r- methyl, sethoxydim, atrazine, bentazon and oxyflourfen showed promising efficacy on dominant weeds, i.e. Cirsium arvensis L., Acroptylon repense L., Triticum boeticum Boiss. and Poa trivialis L. grown in saffron fields of Khorasan Razavi Province of Iran. The objective of this study was to evaluate the possibility of tank mixed application of five previously mentioned herbicides with five commercial fertilizers with different organic and/or inorganic bases.
 
Materials and Methods
A three-year field study was conducted to assess the possibility of tank-mixing herbicides with some organic and inorganic base nutrients in saffron fields in agricultural and natural resources research and education center of Mashhad, Khorasan-Razavi province, Iran, during 2017-2020 growing seasons. The layout was a completely randomized block design with three replicates. Treatments were five herbicides including: haloxyfop-r- methyl (Gallan super^Ò 10.8 % 1 L ha^-1), sethoxydim (Nabu-S^Ò 12.5 % EC, 3 L ha^-1), atrazine (Gezaprim^Ò 80% WP, 1 kg ha^-1), bentazon (Basagran^Ò 48% SL, 3 L ha^-1) and oxyflourfen (Goal^Ò 24% EC, 2 L ha^-1) mixed or individually applied by 24 hours aftermath, with five fertilizers including: NPK (20%, 20%, 20%)+ micro nutrients (Fertinox^Ò, 3 kg ha^-1), NPK (4%, 8%, 12%)+ micro nutrients (Delfard^Ò, 7 kg ha^-1), Zn-EDTA 15% (Oligo-chelate Zn^Ò, 1 kg ha^-1), Fe-EDTA 13.2% (Oligo-chelate Fe^Ò, 1 kg ha^-1) and free amino acids (Trasorb^Ò 20% w/w, 1 L ha^-1). Application of herbicides and fertilizers alone plus weedy and hand weeded controls were also included in the treatments. Herbicides and nutrients alone and tank-mixed or individually applied, were all sprayed soon after flower harvest (phenological stages between 6-9 and 9-1) by a portable recharchable Matabei^® sprayer calibrated to deliver 350 L ha^-1 spray solution.
 
Results and Discussion
Effect of pH changes arose from mixing herbicides with nutrients by different pH values did not show any direct/indirect and significant effect on efficacy of herbicides. Herbicides including oxyflourfen, sethoxydim, atrazine and haloxyfop-r-methyl (except for bentazon as broadleaved killer) either sprayed alone or tank mixed with fertilizers or sprayed individually (24 h before foliar application of fertilizers) significantly controlled target grass weeds i.e. Triticum boeticum Boiss. and Poa trivialis L compare to the weedy check. No significant differences in weed control rate (about 50% control in average) observed between individual (by 24 h interval in between) or tank mixed application of herbicides with fertilizers. The average (of the three years of the experiments) percent of control for Poa trivialis L density and dry matter were by 49.96% and 49.10% for mixed application and for separate application by 50.43% and 52.05%, respectively. The average (of the two years of the experiments) percent of control for Triticum boeticum Boiss. density and dry matter were by 64.92% and 66.71% for mixed application and for separate application were by 61.94% and 60.38%, respectively. Bentazon also showed no reverse effect on flower number and flower fresh weight of saffron with no visual injuries left behind on leaves and corms. No saffron injury on 50- stigma dry weight, flower number and flower fresh weight observed in tank mixed application of herbicides with fertilizers. There has been no sign of visual injury on saffron leaves or intact corms or any visible injury in cross section of corms and therefore, their mixed application are seems to be safe enough to be employed in saffron fields.
 
Conclusion
In conclusion, haloxyfop methyl, sethoxydim, atrazine, bentazon, oxyflourfen and fertilizers, NPK (20%, 20%, 20%)+micro nutrients, NPK (4%, 8%, 12%)+ micro nutrients, Zn-EDTA, Fe-EDTA and free amino acids can be mixed applied in saffron fields. But because of the severe concernes, the long-term effects of herbicides on saffron corms, the fate of herbicide residues in saffron flowers and concrete needs to adjusting the herbicide doses (by dose-response experiments for example) are yet to be investigated.

Keywords

Chemical control

Fe-chelate

Stigma

Zn-chelate

Subjects

• Weed

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Authors retain the copyright. This is an open access article distributed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0)

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