| چکیده انگلیسی مقاله |
 Climatic Potentials Assessment for Saffron Cultivation  In Marvdasht    H. Mohammadi. F. Ranjbar. M. Soltani  Received: 28 April 2010 / Accepted: 16 February 2011, 33-36 P    Extended abstract  1- Intro duction  Climate is numbered amongst the most significant factors which have been considered throughout the history and almost most of agricultural activities deal with a few meteorological factors diurnally (Mohammadi and Moghtaderi, 2005 163. Therefore, one of the most important and effective factors in human activities especially in the agrarian section, is climate so that nearly all cultivations should be done in connection with climatic conditions, otherwise it might simply fall through the cultivation process. Limitation and boundaries of the agricultural crop productions is highly depends on the climatic conditions (Mohammadi, 2007 89). This research aims to examine the climatic conditions for Saffron cultivation in Marvdasht city.  Saffron is a semi-tropical plant and regions with mild winters and warm-dried summers are appropriate to cultivate the Saffron (Kafi, 2003 and Sepaskhah & Kamgar, 2009). Saffron with a common name of Saffron and a scientific name of Crocus Sativus is the most invaluable cultivatable plant existing in the globe, and that is the only plant which intercourses based on milligram in lieu of Kilo and/or Tonne (Rashed et al, 2006).   2- Methodology  In order to carrying out the present research, the daily temperature data and total precipitation of Marvdasht weather station for a period of 20 years (1986-2005) have been selected. To evaluate the climatic conditions of Marvdasht city for Saffron cultivation, we tried to make a correlation between temperature and rainfall parameters of this city with other Saffron-raise cities in Iran i.e. Torbat-e-Heidarieh and Qaein. In continuation, thermal conditions of Marvdasht - in regard to thermal demands of Saffron plant - as well as in comparison with Birjand and Qaein were investigated. It has been used a thermal index of GDD, for investigating the required energy value of Saffron plant and also growth and blooming. In this research, we used the thermal index of GDD to evaluate the degree-day which is computed as follows:   12GDD=n=1âËâTmax+Tmin2 - To'>   Here, GDD indicates the degree-day gathered for N days. Tmax: daily maximum temperature, Tmin: daily minimum temperature, to: basic temperature and/or physiologic zero of plant, N: number of days for a given time.  In this research, it has been used a normal distribution to determine the probability of frost occurrence in the time of Saffronâs blossoming. As well as, aquatic demand of Saffron in the process of growing was evaluated by potential evapotranspiration (ETO) and plant coefficient of Saffron (Kc). We also used Belani-Keridle method to estimate the potential evapotranspiration.   3- Discussion  Based on the carried out researches, we found that climatic condition of Marvdasht is relatively similar with those of Qaein and Torbat-e-Heidarieh saffron-raise cities. Like saffron-raise cities of Khorasan province, parameters of average temperature, min temperature, max temperature and precipitation in the growthâ months of Saffron in Marvdasht are relatively in a satisfactory circumstances. There is no limitation of frost and freezing days for cultivation of Saffron plant, which can affects the Saffronâs performance in the time of flowering in Marvdasht. In the city under study, the first frost occurs in the late December with 95% probability whereas the last frost happens in the late February. In Marvdasht city, the amount of degree-day and the required energy for Saffron in the times of cultivation to producing flowers are in appropriate situation. The last date to cultivate the Saffron is almost 19th of September in Marvdasht. Since, precipitation mostly happens in the winter season in the city under study, it is necessary sometimes to irrigate the Saffron plant in the times of principle growth and producing flowers. In fact, the primary development of Saffron takes place in Fall Season in Marvdasht. And the amounts of Fallâs precipitation are not adequately enough to support the Saffronâs aquatic needs. In Marvdasht, the amount of needed water for Saffron is approximately 760 mm in which a large amount of this related to the ending of producing flower and then harvesting.   4- Conclusion  Saffron is a plant which grows in arid and semi-arid areas. In this research, the climatic conditions of Marvdasht were taken into account in order to cultivating the Saffron plant. According to the results, we can express that the climatic parameters required for Saffron cultivation relatively are available and can provide a suitable condition for growth and harvesting such plant in that region. In relation to the existing fertilized soils and significant water resources in the city, it is highly possible to cultivate the Saffron especially in the hilly places.  Key Words: Climatic Conditions, Saffron, Degree Day, crop Coefficient, Water requirement, Marvdasht.  References  Abrishami, M. H. (1995), Iranian Saffron, an acknowledgement of historical, cultural and agricultural Asten-e-Qods Razavi publication, first edition, Mashhad.  Alizadeh, A. (2008), Water, Soil and Plant Relationships, Imam Reza university pub. Eight editions, Mashhad.  Amir Qasemi, Torab. (2001), Saffron, a red gold of Iran, Nashr-e-Ayandegan publication, first edition, Tehran.  Azizi, Qasem and Yarahmadi, D. (2004), Investigation of Climatic Parameters Relationships with Performance of Wheat by using Regression Model, Geographic Researches Journal. 44 No. University of Tehran.  Azizi-Zohan, A. Kamgar-Haghighi, A, A. Sepaskhah, A, R. (2007), Crop and Pan Coefficients for Saffron in a Semi- arid region of Iran, Journal of Arid Environments 72 (2008) pp270-278.  Baybordi, Mohammad (1989) Water and Soil Relationships, university of Tehran publication, six edition, Tehran.  Behnia, Mohammad R. (1990), Saffron Cultivation, university of Tehran publication, Tehran.  Bostani Pour, L. (2003), Spatial Condition Assessment and Educational Spaces Settlement of Marvdasht city by using GIS, M.Sc. thesis, university of Tehran, Geography program.  Fallah Chay, Mirmozafar and Sepid Nezad Fahim, Seiyed R. (2005), Applied Probability and Statistics, shomal Sabz Neda publications.  Farajzadeh, M. and Taklobeighash, A. (2002), Agroclimatic Regionalization of Hamedan Province by using GIS, Geographic Researches Journal, No. 41, university of Tehran.  Fateh, Sh. (2008), An Investigation on the effect of climatic deleterious factors on wheat performance ingredients in agricultural weather stations throughout the country, M.Sc. thesis, Agricultural Faculty, Karaj.  Fekrat, H. and Ehtesham, M. and Dadkhah, M. R. (2004), Iranian Saffron, an unknown gold (cultivation, conservation, Harvesting), Shahr Ashob pub. First edition, Tehran.  Haulicek, J. (1985), the effect of weather on crop production UVTiz, 3, praha.  Kafi, M, (2003), Saffron, Technology of Production and manufacture, Zaban and Adab pub. Mashhad.  Khaledi, Sh. (1994), Applied Climatology (application of climate in the regional planning), Qomes pub. Tehran.  Mobaraki, Z. (2006), Regionalization of Saffron Cultivation in Qazvin Province, M.Sc. thesis, Geography Faculty, University f Tehran, Tehran.  Mohammadi, H. (2007), Applied Climatology, University of Tehran pub. First edition, Tehran.  Mohammadi, Hossein and Moghtaderi, Q. (2005), Climatic Potentials Assessment of Palm Tree Cultivation in Golestan Province, Geographic Researches, No. 49, university of Tehran.  Parsian, Ahmad and Hamedani, A. (2008), A Principle on Probability, Sheikh Bahaei pub., Esfahan.  Qatreh Samani, S. (2006), Application of Meteorology in Agriculture â the Effect of low Temperatures in Agricultural products, Climatology Institute, Local Mag. An appendix for Scientific and Technical Magazine of Niwar, Tehran.  Rashed, M, H, Kafi, M, Koochaki, A, Nassiri, M. (2006), Saffron (crocus sativus) Production and Processing. Science Publications, 87-96pp.  Sepaskhah, A.R, Kamgar-Haghighi, A.A. (2009), Saffron Irrigation Regime. Journal of production. vol 3.  Willard, Pat. (2001), Secrets of Saffron, Beacon press, pp 185-192.   |