Table 1 The main characteristics of selected fields for preparing organic and conventional saffron samples.

South Khorasan

Birjand

1

Cow manure: 16 t ha⁻¹; One time hand weeding

Superphosphate: 90 kg ha⁻¹; Urea: 90 kg ha⁻¹; One time herbicide; One time nutrients spraying

South Khorasan

Birjand

2

Cow manure: 20 t ha⁻¹ y⁻¹; Two time hand weeding per year

Superphosphate: 75 kg ha⁻¹ y⁻¹; Urea: 100 kg ha⁻¹ y⁻¹; Two time herbicide (Haloxyfop R-methyl) per year

South Khorasan

Birjand

4

Cow manure: 15 t ha⁻¹ y⁻¹; Two time hand weeding per year

Superphosphate: 35 kg ha⁻¹ y⁻¹; Urea: 75 kg ha⁻¹ y⁻¹; Two time herbicide (Haloxyfop R-methyl) per year

South Khorasan

Darmian: Gazik

4

Cow manure: 40 t ha⁻¹ y⁻¹; hand weeding

Cow manure: 20 t ha⁻¹ y⁻¹; Chemical fertilizer: 200 kg ha⁻¹ y⁻¹

Razavi Khorasan

Torbat-Heydariyeh

5

S.H.C nanocomposite: 500 kg ha⁻¹ y⁻¹; Acidic organic liquid sulfur: 8 L ha⁻¹ y⁻¹; Biomic micronutrient foliar spraying: 2 L ha⁻¹ y⁻¹

Superphosphate: 100 kg ha⁻¹ y⁻¹; Urea: 200 kg ha⁻¹ y⁻¹; Chloro-Ptasium: 200 kg ha⁻¹ y⁻¹

Razavi Khorasan

Fariman

7

Annual application of ow manure

Annual application of chemical fertilizer and herbicides

Razavi Khorasan

Gonabad

10

Mean application of cow manure: 35 t ha⁻¹ y⁻¹; Annual hand weeding

Superphosphate: 85 kg ha⁻¹ y⁻¹; Sulfur with bentonite: 150 kg ha⁻¹ y⁻¹; Herbicides: 2.2 L ha⁻¹ y⁻¹