The effect of different sizes of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) corms on yield grown under Eskişehir conditions

This study, conducted in the village of Türkmentokat in Eskişehir, aimed to observe and compare the effects of different corm sizes on the yield of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) plants grown under Eskişehir conditions. In 2023, saffron corms of different sizes were planted at a density of 15x15 cm and a depth of 5 cm, using the Karaarslan saffron variety registered in Eskişehir. The experimental plots were established in a randomized block design with three replications; corms with diameters of 5-5.5 cm for large, 3-3.5 cm for medium, and 1.5 cm for small corms were selected. During the study, the flowering periods of saffron corms of different sizes were observed, and the fresh and dry flower weights, leaf lengths, fresh and dry stigma yields, corm harvests, the number of new corms produced, and corm weights were measured. The results showed that the number of flowers per plant was highest for large corms (1.28 flowers/plant) and lowest for small bulbs (0.31 flowers/plant). The average autumn leaf lengths of the harvested saffron showed the highest values in large bulbs at 16.4 cm and the lowest in small bulbs at 11.4 cm. The average stigma lengths were 4.1 cm in large bulbs and 3.2 cm in small bulbs. At bulb harvest, the highest number of new bulbs (7.0 bulbs/plant) was obtained from large bulbs, while the lowest (2.2 bulbs/plant) was from small bulbs. It was clearly observed that yield values were affected by bulb size. The yield of large bulb plots was higher compared to medium and small bulb plots. The study concluded that under Eskişehir conditions, saffron can be cultivated efficiently, and the corm diameter has an impact on the number of flowers and other yield parameters. Additionally, it was found that separating the corms by size before planting is important as this directly affects stigma yield and new corm production in subsequent years.