Impact of Corm weight on Saffron yield under Temperate Conditions of Kashmir

Corms with different initial corm weight (>15g,10-15g,8-10g) were planted at different planting geometries (20x10cm,25x15cm,30x20 cm,35x25cm) based on number of corms/hill(1,2,3,4) Initial corm weight is of paramount importance in saffron. Studies related to saffron and corm yield indicated importance of initial corm weight for saffron production and corm yield under annual planting cycle. 2 corms/hill weighing >15g, with an application of recommended dose of FYM with inorganic fertilizers and vermicompost recorded the highest saffron yield (3.160 kg/ ha) with a yield gain of 46.97 % over the bench value of 2.15 kg/ha. Impact of initial corm weight was also revealed in terms of more number of daughter corms/mother corm and corm yield during 2010 . Heavier Corms (>15g) exhibited superiority over standard corm size (8-10g) by about 57% for corm yield. Maximum corm yield (1800g/m2) associated with highest number of daughter corms/mother corm (5.32) and 24% flowering corms (weighing more than 8 g) was exhibited by heavier corms planted at a geometry of 25x 15 cm with 2 corms/hill.