Evaluation of emerging trend of saffron (Crocus sativus) vis-Ã -vis climate change in temperate region of Kashmir valley, India

Abstract

The present study was conducted in three different sites of saffron growing areas of temperate region of Kashmir valley, India to evaluate emerging trend of saffron vis-à-vis climate change and production trend. The productivity was evaluated climatic data of temperature and rainfall. The soil in the major saffron grown area of Pampore, Srinagar is uniform and clayey in nature with a soil permeability of 0.05 cm/hr. The productivity in the area was shown an increasing trend with temperature and rainfall. The rainfall data during activity period (July- September) and productivity data were collected (2000-2008) from three different locations. It is evident from results that the maximum productivity was found to be 3030 g/ha in year 2000 and minimum productivity was found 940g/ha corresponding rainfall 150.3mm in the year 2004. The correlation coefficient between productivity and rainfall was 0.18 with a P-value of 0.627. Thus the productivity exhibits positive but non-significant correlation with rainfall. Different year temperature (2000-2009) and corresponding productivity was shown significant effect of temperature on productivity. The statistical analysis between temperature variation and productivity of saffron was to be equal (R2)0.260 with a P-value of 0.468. Thus, the productivity exhibits positive relations but non-significant with mean maximum temperature.