Quantitative and Qualitative Characters of Madder Root at Three Different Regions of Fars Province

پژوهشهای زراعی ایران

Article 3, Volume 8, Issue 1 - Serial Number 15, March and April 2010, Pages 20-25   

Document Type: Research Article

DOI: 10.22067/gsc.v8i1.7386

Authors

M.H. Namjooyan^* ; A.R. Rezaie; H. Moieni-zadeh

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Abstract

Abstract
Madder (Rubia tinctorum L.) from Rubiaceae family, is an important industrial (dying crop) and medicinal (anti-cancer and necrosis) crop. To investigate the cultivation method, the best harvest time and also to determine dye percent of madder root, a three-year experiment was conducted at three regions of Zargan, Sarvestan and Neiriz of Fars province. At each location two fields with different soil salinity levels (high and low EC) were selected. Two method of sowing (seed and root) were used in each experiment. The experimental layout was a complete randomized block design with four replications. Root dry weight and dye percent were determined at the end of second and third year of the experiment. Mean comparison showed that root dry weight and dye percent increased significantly at the end of third year. Furthermore, root dry weight was found to be higher from both root and seed sowing in saline soils at Neiriz and Sarvestan. Overall, these three years experiment showed that root and dye yield increased in saline soils at third year. It appeared that Sarvestan might be a suitable location for madder cultivation. Further field researchs are recommend on this important industrial and medicinal plant in marginal lands of Fars province.

Keywords: Madder (Rubia tinctorum), Root weight, Dye percentage, Fars province