S. Syadat Jamian; M. Aghaalikhani; A. Mokhtassi-Bidgoli
Abstract
To investigate the effect of planting density on quantitative and qualitative characteristics of globe artichoke (Cynara cardunculus L. var. Scolymus (L.) Fiori) under weedy and weed-free conditions, a field experiment was conducted at Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran in 2016 growing season. A factorial ...
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To investigate the effect of planting density on quantitative and qualitative characteristics of globe artichoke (Cynara cardunculus L. var. Scolymus (L.) Fiori) under weedy and weed-free conditions, a field experiment was conducted at Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran in 2016 growing season. A factorial arrangement of the experimental treatments was studied in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The factors included four crop planting densities (2, 4, 6 and 8 plants m-2) under two conditions of presence and absence of weeds. Different traits including leaf number per plant, leaf area index, total dry weight, chlorophylls a, b and total chlorophyll, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid and total polyphenol contents were measured. The results showed that leaf number and dry weight were significantly affected by plant density and weed competition in artichoke, so that the weed competition reduced the artichoke dry weight by 22.4%. The highest leaf area index (2.29) and dry weight of artichoke (253.44 g m-2) were observed at 6 plants m-2, while the highest number of leaves per plant (16.33) belonged to the density of 2 plants m-2. Among qualitative traits chlorophylls a, b and total chlorophyll were only affected by weed presence while caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid and total polyphenol contents were only affected by plant density. The effect of crop plant density on weed leaf area and dry weight was also significant. Overall, the highest performance of the main secondary metabolites in artichoke including caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid and total polyphenol (5.99, 9.55 and 5.89 g m-2, respectively) were obtained at 6 plants m-2, completely affected by crop dry matter yield.
S.M. Hossaini; M. Aghaalikhani; F. Sefidkon; A. Ghalavand
Abstract
The Sahandi savory (Satureja sahendica Bornm.) is a native medicinal species of Iran, which is exposed to extinction. Organic farming of this species in low input systems has an important role to protect this valuable genetic reserve. To evaluate the essential oil content and components of the savory ...
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The Sahandi savory (Satureja sahendica Bornm.) is a native medicinal species of Iran, which is exposed to extinction. Organic farming of this species in low input systems has an important role to protect this valuable genetic reserve. To evaluate the essential oil content and components of the savory in natural habitat and field conditions, an experiment was conducted to investigate the plant growth responses to different fertilizer and redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L.) density (0, 6, 12 and 18 plants/m2) in two planting patterns (rectangles, zigzag). The experiment was carried out in factorial based on RCBD with three replications at the Qazvin Agriculture and Natural Resources Research Center during 2010 to 2012. The nutrient treatments included NPK plus foliar application of micronutrients, four tons/ha vermicompost, two tons/ha vermicompost plus 40 liters/ha vermi-tea (liquid formulation of vermicompost). At the flowering stage, the essential oil content and compounds were measured in both samples of field and natural habitats. The effect of planting pattern was not significant. The highest content of essential oils in first harvest (28.38%) and in second harvest (46.04%) were obtained from organic fertilizer treatments, two tons vermicompost + 40 liters vermin-tea and four tons vermicompost, respectively. These treatments were superior to the savory harvested from natural habitats. The essential oil content of savory under competition of redroot pigweed at all densities were higher than the natural habitats and the highest content in first and second harvest (30.41% and 51.80%) was obtained at 18 plants/m2 pigweed density. In all fertilizer treatments, the content of thymol in comparison to natural habitats (38.49%) was superior and the highest content (42.95%) was obtained with application of four tons vermicompost. In the absence of weed, the Sahandi savory produced the greatest content of thymol (45.18%) compared to the savory grown in natural habitats.
M.A. Kohanmoo; M. Aghaalikhani; F. Rejali
Abstract
This research was aimed to investigate the yield and quality response of two endemic chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) ecotypes from Bushehr and a commercial ecotype from Esfahan to biofertilizers, a field experiment was conducted during two growing seasons of 2008 and 2009 at the research farm of ...
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This research was aimed to investigate the yield and quality response of two endemic chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) ecotypes from Bushehr and a commercial ecotype from Esfahan to biofertilizers, a field experiment was conducted during two growing seasons of 2008 and 2009 at the research farm of Persian Gulf University (Boushehr campus). The experiment was carried out in a randomized complete blocks design in a factorial arrangement with three replications. Treatments consisted of chamomile ecotypes, mycorrhisal inoculationfection (with and without) and amount of micro-biophosphate fertilizer (0, 30 and 60kg.ha-1). Morphological traits and flower yield were evaluated from the flowering period onwards and trhen the essential oil concentration, Chamazulene and Apigenine 7-glycoside percentage were measured. Also, after final harvest, nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium content of chamomile plant and soil were investigated. Result showed that except of the main effect of ecotypes, the other main and interaction effects on the measured traits were insignificant. The flower dry weight of Bushehr ecotypes (1 and 2) was %34 more than that of Esfahan ecotype in 1st year. However, in 2nd year, Boushehr2 had the highest dry flower yield (1132.66 kgha-1) followed by Boushehr1 and Esfahan ecotypes with 12.4 and 48.8 percent loss, respectively. In both years of experiment, Esfahan ecotype produced more chamazulene in essential oil and Boushehr ecotypes were superior treatments for Apigenine 7-glycoside in dried flower (p≤0.05). Although our finding revealed no significant effect of biofertilizers on all measured traits, a dry flower yield of 800-1000 kgha-1, 3 kg ha-1 essential oil, high percentage of chamazulene in essential oil (15-16% for Esfahan and 5-7% for Boushehr ecotypes), and considerable amount of Apigenine 7-glycoside in dried flower (10-12.7 kgha-1) demonstrated the high potential yield of chamomile using biofertilizers under field condition. Therefore, since chamomile showed a proper and vast ecological adaptation to the cultural conditions in Boushehr region, it could be introduced to the low input agricultural systems as a reliable part of local crop rotations.
S.M. Hossaini; M. Aghaalikhani; F. Sefidkon; A. Ghalavand
Abstract
Regarding to the important role of weed management, soil fertility and organic farming of the medicinal plants, in this research, the effect of different levels of redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexux L.) density on growth and yield of sahendi savory (Satureja sahendica Bornm.) was studied in several ...
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Regarding to the important role of weed management, soil fertility and organic farming of the medicinal plants, in this research, the effect of different levels of redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexux L.) density on growth and yield of sahendi savory (Satureja sahendica Bornm.) was studied in several fertility regimes including vermicompost with complete and decreased amount of conventional fertilizers. Experiment was carried out using randomized complete block design with factorial arrangement of treatments with three replicates in Esmaeil Abad Station of Agriculture and Natural Resoursec Research Organization of the Qazvin province during 2010-2012. Fertility factors included NPK plus micro nutrients spraying in first and second year (CF), vermicompost (4 t/ha) in first year (V4), vermicompost (2 t/ha)in first year plus liquid vermitea(40 L/ha) in second year (V2T). Redroot pigweed density levels included 0, 6, 12, and 18 plants per square meter (W0, W6, W12 and W18). Results showed that in first year main effect of fertilizer on shoot weight, and main effect of weed interference on essential oil (p<0.05) and shoot weight (p<0.01) were significant. Weed dry weight significantly (p<0.01) was influenced by weed density in both years of the experiment. The highest percentage of savory essential oil was obtained at 2 t/ha vermicompost+vermitea in no weed treatment. Sixteen compounds were identified in the essential oil of savory of which thymol, р-cymene and γ-trepinene were the most important ones. According to the results of the essential oil analysis, treatment of 4 t/ha vermicompost in weed free condition increased thymol production. However, thymol decreased and р-cymene increased in response to the existence of weeds.
S.M. Razavi Nia; M. Aghaalikhani; H.A. Naghdi Badi
Abstract
The main objective of this research was to investigate the effects of different application rates of vermicompost and chemical fertilizer on qualitative and quantitative performance of purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea L.). A field experiment was conducted at Research Field of Tarbiat Modares University ...
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The main objective of this research was to investigate the effects of different application rates of vermicompost and chemical fertilizer on qualitative and quantitative performance of purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea L.). A field experiment was conducted at Research Field of Tarbiat Modares University during the growing season of 2009-2010. The experiment was arranged as a factorial in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. There were 12 treatments consisting of three chemical fertilizer levels (no fertilizer application, 75 kg nitrogen/ha as urea form + 3000ppm micronutrient fertilizer/ha, and 150kg nitrogen/ha as urea form + 6000ppm micronutrient fertilizer/ha) and four vermicompost levels (0, 2, 4, and 6 ton ha-1). Results showed that vermicompost had significant effects on dry weights of stem, flower, root, total biological yield, number of flowers per plant and SPAD value. In addition, the interaction between chemical fertilizer and vermicompost was significant for root dry weight, 100 flowers dry weight and plant height. The application of 4 ton vermicompost ha-1 without chemical fertilizer resulted in the highest values of stem dry weight, flower dry weight, number of flowers per plant and plant height. The highest root dry weight and total biological yield was obtained by applying 2.94 and 3.59 ton vermicompost ha-1, respectively. There were not significant chemical fertilizer differences on all measured traits. None of the experimental factors showed significant influences on total phenolic compounds in different plant organs. According to results of this experiment, organic fertilizer (vermicompost) could be introduced as a suitable alternative to the use of chemical fertilizer in purple coneflower cultivation.
