Annex White book.pdf

A1.3 TRADITIONAL SAFFRON CULTIVATIONA1.3.1 Cycles. Rotation of cultivationIn the cycle of Fig. 2 there are two different stages within one year:the activity period and the dormant period. The activity period lasts fromAugust to September or from April to May. During this period the plantactivates again its metabolism while root penetration, sprouting, floweringand leaf growth take place (Lopez, 1989). During dormant period,the bulbs do not change in volume or weight because they are alreadyfully formed. There is a transitory period between these two periods, inwhich mitosis and differentiation occur, however to a less importantrhythm (Mylyaeva y Azizbekova, 1978; Azizbekova et al., 1978).Fig. 2 Annual cycle of Crocus sativus L. (Lopez, 1989)In Castile-La Mancha, the production period of saffron lasts threeto four years. Normally, the preferred fields are those where no clover,potatoes or carrots have been cultivated for the last 3 years (or othercultivations that may carry diseases common to Crocus sativus L.).On the contrary, in Western Macedonia, the production period lasts5 to 7 years. As soon as bulbs emerge, they are separated, cleaned andreplanted in another field allowing thus the soil to rest and regain all nutrientsthat were lost during saffron cultivation.In Sardinia the period of production lasts 4 years. Between twocultivation cycles there is an interval of 5 to 10 years. Traditionally, thecultivation of saffron is followed by legumes cultivations such as broadbeans, chickpeas and lentils by the use of fertilizers.98