Agriculture and horticulture
Afshin Tavakoli; Samaneh Asadi-Sanam; Arash Roozbahani
Abstract
Background and objectives: In producing medicinal plants, it is critical to use plants with a high percentage of active ingredients and consume low amounts of water. Thymus daenensis Celak is a tolerant Thymus species for rainfed cultivation. In addition, using complementary irrigation regimes and applying ...
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Background and objectives: In producing medicinal plants, it is critical to use plants with a high percentage of active ingredients and consume low amounts of water. Thymus daenensis Celak is a tolerant Thymus species for rainfed cultivation. In addition, using complementary irrigation regimes and applying anti-stress compounds at critical stages of plant growth are suitable programs for sustainable production and optimal water consumption under dry farming conditions. For this purpose, this experiment was to evaluate the effect of different complementary irrigation regimes along with sodium nitroprusside (SNP) as a nitric oxide donor, kaolin, and potassium spraying on yield and some biochemical characteristics of T. daenensis under rainfed conditions.Methodology: This experiment was designed and implemented as a split plot based on a randomized complete blocks design with three replications in the research field of the Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands-Homand Rangelands Research Station (Damavand) for three years (2017-2019 crop years). The experimental treatments included complementary irrigation as the main factor at three levels: control (no irrigation), one and two complementary irrigation, and spraying of stress-modulating substances as a secondary factor with three compounds of SNP (200 µM), kaolin (5%) and potassium (75 kg/ha from a potassium sulfate source). Cultivation was indirect and through seedlings. To prepare seedlings, the seeds were planted in the cultivation trays in the greenhouse at the end of September. After growing in the greenhouse, the seedlings (8-10 leaves) were transferred to the field in November with rain monitoring. Complementary irrigation and different foliar spraying treatments were done twice in the pre-flowering and 10 % flowering stages. Treatments were applied in the third year of plant growth to increase economic yield. After applying the treatments, the plant's flowering branch was sampled to measure malondialdehyde (MDA). After measuring the morphological characteristics (plant height and canopy diameter) in the full flowering stage, plant shoots were harvested to determine the dry matter yield per square meter and hectare. Percentage and yield of essential oil, total phenol, total flavonoids, and antioxidant capacity were also determined.Results: The results showed that increasing the number of complementary irrigations increased the crown diameter, plant height, and dry matter yield per plant and hectare. Kaolin treatment under two complementary irrigation regimes had the highest height (31.6 cm), and the control treatment under no irrigation had the lowest height (19.3 cm). Also, using kaolin and two complementary irrigations showed the highest dry matter yield per m2 (77.2 grams) and per hectare (771.4 kg). In addition, MDA content was lower in the double complementary irrigation treatment with kaolin foliar spraying (1.22 μmol/g of fresh weight). Foliar spraying of kaolin, potassium, and SNP under rainfed conditions (without irrigation) increased the amount of essential oil (by 1.83, 1.67, and 1.6 percent, respectively) compared to the control treatment (1.4 percent). In contrast, the maximum essential oil yield per hectare was related to the double complementary irrigation regime with potassium foliar spraying (10.6 kg/ha). Foliar spraying with potassium in the regimes of without irrigation (rainfed) and one-time complementary irrigation had the highest content of total phenols and flavonoids, respectively. The highest antioxidant capacity was obtained without irrigation and foliar spraying (control).Conclusion: This experiment showed that complementary irrigation increased dry matter yield per plant and hectare. On the other hand, foliar spraying with anti-stress compounds, especially kaolin, and potassium, along with complementary irrigation, increased essential oil yield per hectare. In general, based on the results of this experiment, it is suggested to use complementary irrigation regimes according to the available water sources. In addition, it is suggested to use kaolin or potassium foliar application under rainfed conditions for T. daenensis.
Agriculture and horticulture
J. Hashempour; S. Asadi-Sanam; M. Mirza; M. Ghanbari Jahromi
Abstract
Background and objectives: Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea L.) is one of the most wellknown medicinal plant species with high economic value worldwide. In Iran, this species' roots and shoots are used in herbal medicines. Many types of phytomedicine are commercially produced from Echinacea aerial ...
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Background and objectives: Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea L.) is one of the most wellknown medicinal plant species with high economic value worldwide. In Iran, this species' roots and shoots are used in herbal medicines. Many types of phytomedicine are commercially produced from Echinacea aerial portions for boosting the nonspecific immune system and treating the common cold. Environmental and health costs of chemical fertilizers have led researchers to meet plant nutritional needs using chemical, organic and biological fertilizers. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of organic and biological fertilizers on morphological traits, shoot and root dry matter, and essential oil percentage and yield in the leaves and stems of coneflower plants.Methodology: This experiment was conducted on a randomized complete block design with three replications at the Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Iran, in 2018-2019. Treatments included control, NPK (N50P25K25; N75P35K35 and N100P75K75 Kg.ha-1), manure (30, 60 and 90 ton.ha-1), vermicompost (5, 10, and 15 ton.ha-1), N50P25K25 fertilizer + 30 ton.ha-1 manure, N50P25K25 + 5 ton.ha-1 vermicompost, biological fertilizers including Glomus intraradaices + G. mosseae, Azospirillum + Pseudomonas, Thiobacillus + 5 ton.ha-1 vermicompost and Thiobacillus + 250 Kg.ha-1 of sulfur (S). Before applying fertilizer treatments, a soil analysis was done. After applying fertilizer treatments, the physical and chemical properties of the soil were also determined. The treatments were selected based on the fertilizer requirements of the plant as well as soil test results. Parameters such as plant height, leaf, stem, and flower numbers, root penetration depth, root volume, leaf, stem, root, and flower dry matter, leaf, stem, and flower essential oil, and essential oil yield of leaves, stems, and flowers were evaluated. At the full flowering stage, samples were taken from aerial segments of plants in all treatment groups. After shade-drying, the samples through a Clevenger-type apparatus were hydro-distillated to obtain the essential oil. The oil percentage, as well as yield, was calculated based on the dry weight.Results: The results showed that the highest leaf and stem dry matter was observed in the 15-ton.ha-1 vermicompost treatment. A 5-ton.ha-1 vermicompost treated with NPK fertilizers displayed the highest flower dry matter. On the other hand, the highest root dry matter was obtained in the treatment with 30 tons.ha-1 manure + NPK fertilizers. The highest flower essential oils yield was obtained in ton.ha-1 manure + NPK fertilizers. The highest leaf + stem oil yields were found at the flowering stage in 15 tons.ha-1 vermicompost. Also, NPK treatment + 30 tons.ha-1 of manure resulted in the highest yield of flower essential oil. 15-ton.ha-1 vermicompost treatment yielded the highest stem and leaf essential oil yield. Only the organic fertilizer group (CM vs. V5) and the biofertilizer group (GM and GI vs. T) showed an increase in flower essential oil yield compared to the other nutritional treatments. In the leaf+stem essential oil yield results, all comparisons between treatment groups showed a significant effect, except for the organic fertilizer group (CM vs. V5). Compared to the NPK group, the biofertilizer and organic fertilizer group yielded the highest leaf+stem essential oil yield.Conclusion: It was concluded that biological fertilizers treatment combined with organic fertilizers could be a suitable alternative to chemicals in the sustainable production of this valuable medicinal plant. These findings suggested that biofertilizers and organic fertilizers can benefit Echinacea purpurea cultivation because, when combined, they enhance the essential oil percentage and yield.
Agriculture and horticulture
S.M. Mohammadi; F, Sefidkon; S. Asadi-Sanam; S. Kalatejari
Abstract
To investigate the effects of different nutritional treatments on morphological characteristics, essential oil yield, and the amount of some elements in the soil and plant branches of Satureja khuzistanica Jamzad, an experiment was conducted as a randomized complete block design with three replications ...
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To investigate the effects of different nutritional treatments on morphological characteristics, essential oil yield, and the amount of some elements in the soil and plant branches of Satureja khuzistanica Jamzad, an experiment was conducted as a randomized complete block design with three replications and 14 nutritional treatments during two growing seasons (2017-2018, 2018-2019). Treatments included 1- C (control), 2- NPK (Chemical fertilizer 50-25-25 kg.ha-1), 3- CM30, 4- CM60 (CM: Cattle manure 30 and 60 ton.ha-1), 5- CM30+NPK, 6- CM60+NPK, 7- V5 (Vermicompost 50 ton.ha-1), 8- V5+NPK, 9- GM (Glomus mosseae), 10- GI (Glomus intraradices), 11- S0+T, 12- S250+T, 13- S500+T (S: Sulfur 0, 250, and 500 kg.ha-1, T: Thiobacillus), and 14- V5+T. The analysis of variance showed the significant effect (p < /em>≤0.01) of year×fertilizer treatments on the all morphological characteristics, percentage and essential oil yield, and the amount of potassium and sulfur of plant branches. The highest plant height in the first and second years was related to the CM30+NPK and CM60 treatments, respectively. The highest number of branches in the first and second years was observed in the CM30+NPK and GM treatments, respectively. The CM30+NPK treatment had the highest shade width in both years. Also, the highest amount of dry matter of flowering branches in the first and second years was related to the CM30+NPK and V5+T treatments, respectively. According to the results, the highest essential oil percentage in the first and second years was observed in the GM and S0 + T treatments, respectively. The application of V5+NPK and V5 +T treatments significantly increased the essential oil yield in the first and second years, respectively. The results also showed that the highest potassium content of branches in the first and second years was related to the GI and V5 + NPK treatments, respectively. Also, the highest sulfur content of branches in the first and second years was obtained in the V5 and S500 + T treatments, respectively. In general, the present study showed that the use of biofertilizers increases the efficiency of essential oil percentage and the amount of nutrients in this plant. Also, it could be recommended to use vermicompost along with the chemical and biological fertilizers to increase the essential oil yield of Satureja khuzistanica.
M. Oveysi Omran; M. Zavareh; F. Sefidkon; B. Abaszadeh; S. Asadi-Sanam
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of soil application of potassium fertilizer and foliar application of brasinosteroid on morphophysiological characteristics and essential oil yield of medicinal plant purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench) in response to water availability. ...
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The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of soil application of potassium fertilizer and foliar application of brasinosteroid on morphophysiological characteristics and essential oil yield of medicinal plant purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench) in response to water availability. Treatments consisted of three levels of water availability (irrigation at 90% (control), 60%, and 30% of field capacity (FC)) in main plots and four amounts of potassium fertilizer (no potassium application (control), 50, 100, and 150 kg K2O ha-1) as well as the foliar application of three brassinosteroid concentrations (distilled water (control), 0.1, and 1 μM) in subplots. Results showed that the highest mean plant height (67.8 cm), number of leaves plant-1(151), number of flowers plant-1 (18.1), flower dry weight (151.9 g plant-1) and aerial parts dry weight (508.6 g plant-1) were obtained in the second year of the experiment under 150 kg ha-1 potassium and normal irrigation treatments. The highest percentage of essential oil (76) was obtained under irrigation at 60% of FC, 150 kg ha-1 potassium, and 1 µM brassinosteroid treatments. In the second year, the maximum amount of essential oil plant-1 (0.67 g) was related to 150 kg ha-1 potassium and 1 μm brassinosteroid treatments. In general, the results of this study showed that irrigation at 60% of FC together with 150 kg ha-1 potassium and 1 μM of brassinosteroid could reduce the effects of drought stress, increase the amount of essential oil plant-1 and improve some morphophysiological characteristics in purple coneflower.
E. Tashakorifard; Gh.R. Mohsenabadi; S.M.R. Ehteshami; S. Asadi-Sanam
Abstract
This study was carried out to investigate different soil fertility management on morphological traits, essential oil yield and quality of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill) forage. The experiment was conducted as a randomized complete block design with three replications at the Research Institute of Forests ...
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This study was carried out to investigate different soil fertility management on morphological traits, essential oil yield and quality of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill) forage. The experiment was conducted as a randomized complete block design with three replications at the Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands. The experimental treatments included five fertilizer levels (chemical, biological, vermicompost, 75% and 50% concentration of chemical fertilizers + bio-fertilizers + vermicompost). The results indicated the significant effects of different fertilizer treatments on the traits studied. Accordingly, the treatment of 75% chemical fertilizers with biofertilizers and vermicompost improved morphological characteristics, essential oil yield, and quantitative and qualitative yield of forage, recognized as superior treatment. The above mentioned treatment had the highest plant height (95 cm), shoot dry weight (98 g m-2), biological yield (1191.6 kg ha-1), seed yield (138 kg ha-1), and harvest index (11.6%). The highest and lowest percentage and essential oil yield were related to 75% chemical fertilizers+biofertilizers+vermicompost (about 3% and 18 kg ha-1) and 100% chemical fertilizers treatment (about 2% and 13 kg ha-1), respectively. The highest amount of important forage qualitative traits such as digestible dry matter (%), water soluble sugars (%) and ash content was obtained in 75% chemical fertilizers with biofertilizers and vermicompost treatment. While the above mentioned traits had the lowest amount in the application of 100% of chemical fertilizers, compared to other treatments. In addition, forage quality-reducing factors such as neutral and acidic insoluble fiber had the highest values in this treatment. It seems that in order to achieve sustainable agriculture and optimize the organic production of medicinal plants, the reduced concentrations of chemical fertilizers along with bio-resources can reduce environmental pollution in addition to economic production.
M.H. Lebaschi; E. Sharifi Ashourabadi; M. Makizadeh Tafti; A.H. Talebpour; J. Hasani; Kh. Karimzadeh; S. Asadi sanam
Abstract
In order to study the effect of plant density on some quantitative and qualitative characteristics of Thymus pubescens Boiss. & Kotschy ex Celak under rainfed conditions, a field experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with three replications in three different dry farming ...
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In order to study the effect of plant density on some quantitative and qualitative characteristics of Thymus pubescens Boiss. & Kotschy ex Celak under rainfed conditions, a field experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with three replications in three different dry farming regions of the country during two years. Experimental treatments consisted of plant density (25, 35 and 50 cm between plants on rows equal to 8, 6 and 4 plant/m2, respectively), time (first and second year after planting) and location (East Azarbayjan, Kordestan, and Tehran). The traits including plant height, canopy diameter, dry matter yield of aerial parts, essential oil yield and content were measured at full flowering stage. The results of ANOVA indicated the significant effect of density, location and time and their interaction on all traits studied. The highest dry matter yield (1147 kg ha-1) was obtained in both two years in Tehran at 8 plant/m2. Kordestan with 2.25% and East Azarbayjan with 0.43% had the highest and lowest essential oil percentage, respectively. In density × location interaction, the highest amount of essential oil yield was obtained in Kordestan (21.73 kg ha-1) and Tehran (17.88 kg ha-1) at a density of 8 plant/m2. Thymus pubescens showed higher dry matter and essential oil yield under high plant density, indicating the establishment and adaptation of the species to different rainfed regions of the country especially Damavand and Kordestan.
M.H. Lebaschi; E. Sharifi Ashoorabadi; M. Makizadeh Tafti; S. Asadi-Sanam; Kh. Karimzadeh Asl
Abstract
In order to evaluate the effect of plant density on quantitative and qualitative yieldof three species of Thymus under dry farming conditions in Tehran (Damavand), Kurdistan and Kermanshah provinces, an experiment was conducted in a randomized block design based on split plot with three replications ...
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In order to evaluate the effect of plant density on quantitative and qualitative yieldof three species of Thymus under dry farming conditions in Tehran (Damavand), Kurdistan and Kermanshah provinces, an experiment was conducted in a randomized block design based on split plot with three replications during three years (2009-2011). The treatments were included three species (T. vulgaris L., T. daenensis Celak.and T. kotschyanus Boiss. & Hohen.) and three planting densities (4, 6 and 8 plant/m2), which were considered as main and sup-plots, respectively. Shoot dry matter yield, essential oil content, yield and essential oil components were determined. Results showed that the four-interaction effect (density, species, year and province) was significant on dry matter content, calculated to be from 75 to 5172 kg/h in different treatments. The maximum dry matter yield was observed at a density of 6 plant/m2 for T. daenensis in Kermanshah in the third year of experiment. The highest essential oil yield was obtained at a density of 8 plant/m2 for T. daenensis in Kermanshah in the second year of experiment. The maximum thymol content (80.33%) was related to T. daenensis inDamavand at a density of 6 plant/m2 in the third year of experiment. Overall, high production capacity of T. daenensis in the study provinces indicates the adaptation and economic yield of this native and valuable species.
S. Asadi Sanam; M. Zavareh; H. Pirdashti; F. Sefidkon; Gh.A. Nematzadeh; A. Hashempour
Abstract
This research was aimed to investigate the effect of planting date and soil flooding duration on some biochemical characteristics of purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench) in Sari region. The study was conducted in a RCBD based split plot with three replications in the Research Farm of the ...
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This research was aimed to investigate the effect of planting date and soil flooding duration on some biochemical characteristics of purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench) in Sari region. The study was conducted in a RCBD based split plot with three replications in the Research Farm of the Genetics and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute of Tabarestan, Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University, in 2012. Experimental treatments included three planting dates (June 30, July 30 and August 29) and three soil flooding durations (without flooding as control, three and five-day flooding) which were considered as main and sub-plots, respectively. Malondialdehyde (MDA), total phenols and flavonoids contents, protein oxidation of the leaves, enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT), as well as percentage of DPPH free radical inhibition were determined. Results of this experiment showed a significant increment of malondialdehyde (MDA) content in purple coneflower leaf with the highest level in five-day flooding duration and in August 29 planting date. The highest decrease in total protein was found in the same planting data and flooding duration with 90 % decline than control.The highest activity of antioxidant enzymes of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) was recorded in the purple coneflowers leaves, cultivated in June 30, and flooded for three days, while the highest activity of peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) were observed in plants cultivated in July 30. Five-day soil flooding markedly increased the total phenols and flavonoids content just in plants transplanted in June 30. In addition, the highest percentage of DPPH free radical inhibition was measured in plants subjected to continues five-day soil flooding and cultivated in August 29. In conclusion, it seems that the coneflower plant relatively showed a good tolerance to flooding stress.
