Annex White book.pdf

A1.4.3.2Modifying other cultivation machinesModified machinery can be applied only in small-scale fields wherethe bulbs have been planted in lines. Preferably, those machines shouldnormally be used for grubbing potatoes and bringing the bulbs on thesurface of the field. At that point, bulbs are picked up by hand. Bulbscollected by such method, are clean, free from soil and weeds. A greatnumber of bulbs, especially the small ones, remain within the groundas they are covered by the soil falling on the ground.A1.4.4 Flower harvestingMechanized flower harvesting is possible only when the field hasbeen prepared accordingly after planting or during the end of the summerand if the cultivation is already some years old. In this case, themachinery needed is moulding machines that till at a depth of 3 to 10cm depending on the position of the sprouts. After tilling, the soil is flattenedand pressed by a rolling machine (a free moving roll would ratherover churn the soil instead of compress it). The soil should be free fromweeds and other residues.The machine for mechanized harvesting has been described in aprevious sectionA1.5 FORCED SAFFRON CULTIVATIONA1.5.1 Bulb production in the fieldBulb production systems through forced cultivations demand a greatamount of vegetable material deriving from the fields. In Albacete (Spain)tests on forced cultivations are being carried out in order to study theeffects of the size of the bulb and the planting density in relation to theefficiency and quality of the cultivation. The best results were achievedby planting the bulbs with a diameter larger than 30 mm in density of200 to 300 bulbs per m2. The outcome was 28,4 Mg per hectare and36,6 Mg per hectare respectively (De Juan et al, 2003).A1.5.1.1Reproduction material sanitationThe bulbs used in forced cultivation should not bear any damagesthat could allow infections by microorganisms. Infections could havenegative results, causing flower dismissal117