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. Govahi; A. Ghalavand; F. Nadjafi; A. Sorooshzadeh
Abstract
Sage, a popular medicinal plant, is widely used in food and pharmaceutical industries. This research was aimed to study the effects of organic and biological fertilizers on physiological characteristics, yield, and essential oil content of sage (Salvia officinalis L.) under different moisture conditions. ...
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Sage, a popular medicinal plant, is widely used in food and pharmaceutical industries. This research was aimed to study the effects of organic and biological fertilizers on physiological characteristics, yield, and essential oil content of sage (Salvia officinalis L.) under different moisture conditions. The study was conducted in a field experiment in split-plot design with 15 treatments and three replications at Tarbiat Modares University in 2012. Treatments included three irrigation levels (irrigation after depletion of 40% available water, irrigation after depletion of 60% available water, and irrigation after depletion of 80% available water) and five different soil fertility systems (control (no fertilizer) (F0), chemical fertilizer (urea) (Ur), nitrogen fixing bacteria (NFB), vermicompost (V), vermicompost + nitrogen fixing bacteria (V+MFB), allocated to main plots and subplots, respectively. Results indicated that the irrigation regimes had significant effect (p 0.01) on all measured traits. Chlorophyll a, b, and dry matter declined with increasing of water stress, but sugar, proline and essential oil content increased. Results showed that the highest values of all measured traits were related to the vermicompost + nitrogen fixing bacteria treatment. In addition, results showed that the highest essential oil percentage (1.10%) and essential oil yield (20.50 l ha-1) were obtained in vermicompost + nitrogen fixing bacteria treatment under moderate drought stress (I2).
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. Yousefzadeh; S.A.M. Modarres-Sanavy; F. Sefidkon; A. Asgarzadeh; A. Ghalavand; M. Roshdi; A. Safaralizadeh
Abstract
To determine the effect of biofertilizers and nitrogen on some morphologic traits and essential oil content of dragonhead (Dracocephalum moldavica L.), a field experiment was conducted as factorial in a randomized complete blocks design with 20 treatments and 3 replications. The study was performed in ...
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To determine the effect of biofertilizers and nitrogen on some morphologic traits and essential oil content of dragonhead (Dracocephalum moldavica L.), a field experiment was conducted as factorial in a randomized complete blocks design with 20 treatments and 3 replications. The study was performed in two locations during 2009-2010 on research field at Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, and at the Khoy Agricultural Research Center in West Azarbaijan province. The treatments were consisted of two genotypes (landrace and SZK-1 cultivar), two seed inoculation treatments (either with or without bacterial inoculation with Azotobacter + Azosprillum + psedomonas) and five fertilization regimes (100% urea, 75% urea + 25% Azocompost, 50% urea + 50% Azocompost, 25% urea + 75% Azocompost and 100% Azocompost). Results showed that most of the studied morphologic traits were affected by genotype factor. The effect of fertilizer regime was significant on dry matter yield, percentage of essential oil and essential oil yield. The number of flowering branches in location one, and plant height, number of leaves per main stem and number of flowering branches in location two were affected by bacterial inoculation. Two-way interaction effects on a number of studied traits were significant. Three-way interaction effects were significant for the number of flowering branches in location one and the percentage of essential oil and dry matter yield in location two. The greatest plant height, height of the first flowering branch from ground level, number of leaves on the main stem, the number of lateral branches and essential oil yield were recorded for the landrace. The bacterial inoculation increased plant height, the number of leveas on the main stem, stem diameter and the number of flowering branches per plant. The application of 50% urea + 50% Azocompost increased dry matter yield, essential oil percentage and yield. The application of 100% Azocompost resulted in the least essential oil yield. Essential oil yield in landrace was more than that of SZK-1 cultivar. Bacterial inoculation could enhance the essential oil yield in both genotypes, particularly in landrace. In general, results showed that application of 50% urea + 50% Azocompost integrated with bacterial inoculation can be a suitable alternative to chemical fertilizers.
Sh. Khalesro; A. Ghalavand; F. Sefidkon; A. Asgharzadeh
Abstract
Anise (Pimpinella anisum L.) is one of the aromatic and medicinal plants. Anethol is the most important component of its essential oil used in medicinal and food industries. The aim of this experiment was to determine the effect of vermicompost levels (0, 5 and 10 t.ha-1), mixture of Azotobacter, Azospirillum ...
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Anise (Pimpinella anisum L.) is one of the aromatic and medicinal plants. Anethol is the most important component of its essential oil used in medicinal and food industries. The aim of this experiment was to determine the effect of vermicompost levels (0, 5 and 10 t.ha-1), mixture of Azotobacter, Azospirillum and Pseudomonas (inoculation and not-inoculation) and zeolite (0 and 4.5 t.ha-1) on essential oil content, composition and macro element contents of Pimpinella anisum. Experimental design was randomized complete blocks with factorial arrangement. Field experiment was conducted at Sanandaj Agriculture Research Station, in 2009. The results showed that vermicompost application improved essential oil content and yield, anethol and methyl chavicol percentage, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium content. Inoculating seeds with PGPR led to significant increment in all of the mentioned characters except for methyl cavicol percentage and potassium concentration. Zeolite application had significant effect on essential oil content, oil yield and anethol percentage but no significant effect on the other characters. The most favorable interaction treatment for essential oil production and phosphorus percentage was the PGPR inoculation combined with the highest level of vermicompost.
A. Salehi; A. Ghalavand; F. Sefidkon; A. Asgharzade
Abstract
In order to study the effects of zeolite, bio and organic fertilizers on N, P, K concentration, essential oil content and yield in organic cultivation of German Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla), a factorial experiment in randomized complete blocks design with twelve treatments and three replications ...
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In order to study the effects of zeolite, bio and organic fertilizers on N, P, K concentration, essential oil content and yield in organic cultivation of German Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla), a factorial experiment in randomized complete blocks design with twelve treatments and three replications was conducted in the faculty of agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, 2005. The factors were PGPR inoculums (inoculated and no inoculated), zeolite (0 and 9 tons/ha) and vermicompost (0, 5, 10 tons/ha). Results showed that the highest concentration of N, P and K in plant, essential oil content and yield were obtained with PGPR inoculums. Zeolite also showed significant effects on the mentioned traits except P concentration. With application of zeolite 9 ton/ha, essential oil content, essential oil yield, N and K concentration were increased. Essential oil content, essential oil yield, N, P and K concentration were also increased with increasing of vermicompost levels as the highest values were obtained with application of 10 ton/ha vermicompost. There was positive and synergistic interaction between PGPR inoculums and vermicompost on N concentration as the highest and lowest N concentration percentage in herb were obtained in treatments of V3B2 (1.48) and V1B1 (1.12), respectively. According to the results, it appears that application of 10 tons vermicompost, inoculation with PGPR and 9 tons zeolite was the best treatment in production of German chamomile essential oil yield in organic system.