Effect of planting depth and spacing on dry matter accumulation, size and yield of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) corms in North Western Himalayas

Dry matter production and allocation to different organs of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) was investigated during 2006–07. The crop was grown in a mid hill subtemperate environment. Fresh and dry matter accumulated in leaves, roots and corms were recorded at 15 days interval started from 1 month after planting upto harvest. The dry matter increased progressively irrespective of the planting depths and spacing levels with the age of the plant. Corms planted in shallow depth (7.5 and 10.0 cm) accumulated highest dry matter in initial stages than corms planted deeper (12.5 and 15.0 cm) but in later stages the trend was reverse. Corms planted in 15.0 cm depth resulted in 10.5% more horizontal corm diameter and 29.4% higher unitary corm weight than 7.5 cm depth. Corms planted at wider spacing accumulated maximum dry matter due to which the individual corm weight, horizontal corm diameter and number of daughter corms were highest. Wider spacing (15.0X10.0 cm) recorded 19.2% higher corm diameter and 51.8% higher corm weight than narrow spacing (10.0X7.5 cm).