Effect of biofertilizer and nitrogen on the amount of nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, dry matter yield and essential oil of dragonhead (Dracocephalum moldavica L.) at two regions of Iran

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

2 Scientific member of Agronomy Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University

3 Former Ph.D. Student, Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

To determine effect of biofertilizer and nitrogen on the amount of nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, dry matter yield and essential oil content of dragonhead, a field experiment was conducted as factorial in a randomized complete block design with 3 replications at two locations in Research Field at Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University (location 1), and Research Center in West Azarbaijan province (location 2) in 2009-2010. The treatments were consisted of genotypes (landrace and SZK-1 cultivars), seed inoculation treatments (either (B1) with or without (B2) bacterial inoculation) and fertilization regimes (100% urea, 75% urea + 25% azocompost, 50% urea + 50% azocompost, 25% urea + 75% azocompost  and 100% azocompost). Results showed that nitrogen accumulation in genotypes was different. The maximum amount of P and K produced by using the F5treatment in both locations. In the first location, the F3 treatment produced the greatest percentage of essential oil (0.46-0.53%) both with and without bacterial inoculation. The F3 treatment with bacterial inoculation produced 4781.1 kg Dry matter yield per ha which had not significant difference with the chemical control treatment. In general, results showed that application of F3 treatment can be a suitable alternative for chemical fertilizers.

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Main Subjects


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  • Receive Date: 22 November 2015
  • Revise Date: 18 January 2016
  • Accept Date: 14 February 2016
  • Publish Date: 22 May 2017