M. Makkizadeh; M.R. Chaichi; S. Nasrollahzadeh; K. Khavazi
Abstract
Summer savory (Satureja hortensis L.) is one of the most important medicinal plants as its essential oil is used in different industries including pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food.In this research, effect of different types of nitrogen fertilizers on quantitative and qualitative characteristics of summer ...
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Summer savory (Satureja hortensis L.) is one of the most important medicinal plants as its essential oil is used in different industries including pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food.In this research, effect of different types of nitrogen fertilizers on quantitative and qualitative characteristics of summer savory was evaluated in a complete randomized blocks design with three replications .The treatments included chemical fertilizer (150 kg/ha urea), biofertilizer (Azospirillum & Azotobacter), combinations of biofertilizer and 50% chemical fertilizer and control. Different characteristics such as plant height, number of lateral branches, flowering shoot dry weight, shoot dry weight, essential oil yield and essential oil percentage were recorded.According to the results, all studied characteristics were affected by different types of nitrogen fertilizers and the highest records were obtained at 50% chemical fertilizer. Percentage of essential oil was also significantly affected by fertilizer treatments as the most percentage of essential oil was respectively obtained at chemical fertilizer (2.07%), combination of biofertilizer and 50% chemical fertilizer (1.91%) and biofertilizer (1.90%). Application of different nitrogen sources significantly increased essential oil yield compared to the control treatment and the highest essential oil yield was obtained at combinations of biofertilizer and 50% chemical fertilizer (30.23 kg/ha). Afterward, chemical fertilizer and biofertilizer respectively produced the most essential oil yield. Our results indicated thatapplication of bio-fertilizers alone or in combination with chemical fertilizer has positive effects in improvement of qualitative and quantitative traits of Summer savory; so it could be considered instead of continuous use of chemical fertilizersas a shift towards sustainable agriculture and reduce pollution from chemical fertilizer.
S. Dastborhan; S. Zehtab-Salmasi; S. Nasrollahzadeh; A.R. Tavassoli
Abstract
In order to study the effects of biofertilizers and different amount of nitrogen fertilizer on flower yield, essential oil and nitrogen use efficiency in German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.), a factorial experiment based on the randomized complete block design with three replications was performed ...
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In order to study the effects of biofertilizers and different amount of nitrogen fertilizer on flower yield, essential oil and nitrogen use efficiency in German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.), a factorial experiment based on the randomized complete block design with three replications was performed in 2008 at the agricultural research farm of the University of Tabriz. Experimental factors were: inoculation with bacteria (B0: no-inoculation, B1: inoculation with Azotobacter chroococcum, B2: inoculation with Azospirillum lipoferum and B3: inoculation with a mixture of two bacteria) and nitrogen fertilizer (N0: 0, N1: 50, N2: 100 and N3: 150 kg N/ha). The results showed that application of different amounts of nitrogen fertilizer significantly increased flower yield and essential oil when compared with control. However, there were no significant differences among application of 50, 100 and 150 kgN/ha. Although flower yield and essential oil of the plants inoculated with bacteria were higher than that of control treatment (B0), these differences were not significant. Combination of inoculation with bacteria and nitrogen fertilizer was significant. Following the inoculation with Azotobacter, mean essential oil percentage significantly decreased with increasing use of nitrogen fertilizer while in other levels of inoculation, different amounts of nitrogen fertilizer had no significant effects on mean essential oil percentage. In all inoculation levels, nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) declined with increasing amounts of nitrogen fertilizer. Nitrogen use efficiency increased in response to inoculation with bacteria (except inoculation with Azotobacter and application of 50 kg N/ha) compared to the control treatment. According to the results, application of 50 kg N/ha and inoculation with plant growth promoting rhizobacteria, leads to optimal performance and the highest NUE in German chamomile.
