In this study the effect of different concentrations of leaf (LR) and corm residue (CR) of saffron on seedling growth of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.), chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) and arugula (Eruca sativa Mill.) as three potential companion crops for saffron were investigated under greenhouse condition. The experimental treatments were four concentrations (0.5, 1.5, 3 and 6 %) together with no residue treatment of LR and CR were arranged in completely randomized design. Results showed that the highest emergence percentage of chickpea was obtained at LR concentration of 6 %. Chickpea shoot length and mass had an increasing trend with increase in concentrations of saffron CR. LR and CR of saffron only at concentration of 3 and 6 % reduced the emergence percentage and emergence rate of fenugreek, but all concentration of CR and LR had no negative effect on length and mass of shoot. Saffron residue imposed a slight inhibitory effect on emergence percent and emergence rate of arugula, while had it a positive effect on some seedling growth characters especially root dry mass. Hence, three tested crops can be recommended as potential candidates to be associated with the saffron, although, the growth response of selected plants was dose-dependent and somewhat different.Key words: saffron residue; associated crop; germination; seedling growth
IZVLEČEK UČINKI RAZLIČNIH KONCENTRACIJ OSTANKOV GOMOLJEV IN LISTOV ŽAFRANA NA ZGODNJO RAST RUKVICE, ČIČERKE IN SABLJASTEGA TRIPLATA V RASTLINJAKUV raziskavi so bili preučevani učinki različnih koncentracij ostankov listov (LR) in čebulastih gomoljev (CR) žafrana na rast sejank sabljastega triplata (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.), čičerke (Cicer arietinum L.) in rukvice (Eruca sativa Mill.) kot treh potencialnih soposevkov žafrana v rastlinjaku. Poskusna obravnavanja so obsegala štiri koncentracije (0.5, 1.5, 3 in 6 %) ostankov listov in gomoljev žafrana in kontrolo brez teh dodatkov v popolnem naključnem poskusu. Rezultati so pokazali, da je bil največji vznik čičerke pri uporabi listnih ostankov žafrana v koncentraciji 6 %. Masa in dolžina pogankov čičerke sta se povečevali z naraščajočo koncentracijo ostankov gomoljev žafrana. Dodatek ostankov listov in gomoljev žafrana v koncentracijah med 3 in 6 % je zmanjšal odstotek vznika sabljastega triplata, vendar so imeli dodatli listnih in gomoljevih ostankov žafrana negativni učinek na dolžino in maso poganjkov te rastline. Ostanki žafrana so imeli rahel zaviralni učinek na vznik rukvice, a so imeli pozitivni učinek na nekatere rastne parameter te vrste, še posebej na suho maso korenin. Zaključimo lahko, da bi te polščine lahko priporočili kot potencialne kandidate za vmesne posevke v žafranu, čeprav je njihov rastnih odziv nekoliko različen in odvisen od koncentracije ostankov žafrana.