Effects of biological fertilizers on physiological traits and bioactive compounds in saffron (Crocus sativus L.).

Background: Relatively few studies have explored the impact of biofertilizers on the qualitative and quantitative yield of saffron despite its global agricultural and medical importance. This study aimed to evaluate the physiological and phytochemical responses of saffron to potassium (K), phosphorus (P), and iron-zinc (Fe-Zn) biofertilizers over 2 consecutive years (2022-2023). The treatments included single and combined applications of K, P, and Fe-Zn biofertilizers containing active bacterial inoculum, along with a control group, resulting in a total of eight treatments.

Soil quality assessment of paddy fields (in Northern Iran) with different productivities: establishing the critical limits of minimum data set indicators.

The aim of this study was to assess soil quality and identify main indicators and their critical limits as a function of relative rice yield in northern Iran. In present study, 60 topsoil (0-30 cm) samples were collected and 18 physical, chemical, and biological soil attributes were measured and analyzed. Based on the mean rice yield obtained from sampling sites, paddy fields were divided into fields with low ([Formula: see text] 4.