Pulwama, Jan 14: The persisting dry weather in Jammu and Kashmir is anticipated to adversely affect the development and multiplication of saffron corms.
Experts are expressing concerns that the lack of moisture in the soil will induce stress on mother corms, potentially hampering the overall growth and production of baby corms.
Dr Bashir Ahmad Allie, head of SKUAST-K’s Advanced Research Station for Saffron and Seed Spices, highlighted the critical nature of the ongoing vegetative phase, spanning from November 10th to the end of April. During this phase, mother corms produce new corms that play a crucial role in determining the next year’s flower production.
“If corms come under stress during this period, the multiplication process will be affected,” he warned. The process involves root formation, corm development, and leaf growth occurring over 190 days from November to April.
Dr Allie emphasised the necessity of sufficient soil moisture for root growth, nutrient absorption, and corm development. Insufficient moisture, he explained, could lead to early root dryness and premature tip burning of leaves.
Stressing that the December to February period is critical for corm development, Dr Bashir said, “Insufficient moisture leads to decreased absorption of nutrients from the soil, resulting in smaller-sized corms.”
Corm multiplication is vital for the survival of the saffron crop, as the mother corm becomes exhausted each year before giving rise to baby corms.
Dr Allie disclosed that saffron requires approximately 1200 hours of chilling from December to the first week of February. In the absence of sufficient moisture, this chilling period may not be as productive as under normal conditions.
He highlighted that precipitation in the form of rain or snow until February would positively impact saffron. “Precipitation till February will fulfill the moisture requirement of saffron, and saffron growers will not need to worry,” he reassured, cautioning that the continuation of the ongoing dry spell could have a detrimental effect on saffron cultivation.
