EFFECT OF TRIGGER WEATHER ON SAFFRON PHENOLOGY UNDER TEMPERATE CONDITIONS OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR, INDIA

F.A. NEHVI¹*, N.A. DAR², B.A. ELAI³, M.H. KHAN⁴, A.M. IQBAL⁵, G.H. MIR⁶, A. GAUTAM⁷, Q. SAMEERA^8
1Spices Board (Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Govt of India), Regional office, Srinagar, 190008, India
²Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, 190025, India
³Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, 190025, India
⁴Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, 190025, India
⁵Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, 190025, India
⁶Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, 190025, India
⁷Spices Board (Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Govt of India), Regional office, Srinagar, 190008, India
⁸Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, 190025, India
* Corresponding Author : f.nehvi@rediffmail.com

Received : 04-02-2022     Accepted : 27-02-2022     Published : 28-02-2022
Volume : 14     Issue : 2       Pages : 11085 - 11090
Int J Agr Sci 14.2 (2022):11085-11090

Keywords : Trigger weather, Phenological stages, Saffron production
Academic Editor : Dr Hemangi Mehta, Dr Pankaj Nautiyal, Dr Praveen Kumar Jaga
Conflict of Interest : None declared
Acknowledgements/Funding : Authors are thankful to Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, 190025, India. Authors are also thankful to Agricultural Production and Farmers Welfare Department of Jammu and Kashmir for providing information; Spices Board (Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Govt of India), Regional office, Srinagar, 190008, India
Author Contribution : All authors equally contributed

Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory of India is blessed with temperate type of climate with mean annual aerial temperature of 12.99°C, average maximum temperature of 19.55°C, average minimum temperature of 6.43°C, mean relative humidity of 70.56% and precipitation of 1071.15mm received in 91.36 wet days. Weather parameters make J&K pride of being only place in India with successful story of cultivating saffron since aegis. Present study was carried out to study influence of weather parameters recorded over 10 years (2012-2021) on saffron plant development which is divided in to 6 stages viz; corm dormancy, flower ontogenesis, bud sprouting, flowering, vegetative phase and plant senescen. Analysis of weather data suggests that with onset of sprouting stage there is decline in average maximum and minimum temperature by 9.29 % & 38.13% respectively, compared to flower ontogenesis stage. However, with decline in mean aerial temperature by 15.29%, there is increase in mean relative humidity by 3.04%. Study has confirmed that saffron flowering is initiated from the sprouted corms either in 2nd fortnight of October or in November depending upon maximum temperature, that has to be around 17°C. For vernalization saffron plant requires 1000-1200 hrs of chilling with mean aerial temperature ranging from 1- 4°C. Weather data pooled over years clearly indicate that during the month of December saffron plant receives 465 chilling hours and during 2nd phase of vegetative cycle (1st January to 15th February) which is also associated with corm development and contractile root formation saffron plant receives 690 chilling hours as mean aerial temperature recorded during this period was recorded to be 2.40°C. This unique weather condition of Jammu and Kashmir from 1st December to 15th February has made saffron cultivation possible. Mean aerial temperature of 8.04°C associated with mean relative humidity of 70.03% is ideal for completion of corm development and foliage growth in saffron. Association of high rainfall with high humidity as evident from data clearly signal build-up of fungal inoculums causing corm rot. Identified weather parameters if used by researchers will help in programming Good Agricultural Practices pertaining to agronomic, disease and pest management capsules to mitigate ill effects of climate change for boosting saffron production

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