In collaboration with Scientific Association of Iranian Medicinal Plants

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Abstract

To study the effects of different sowing dates and different fertilizing methods (chemical &organic) on yield and amount of active substance of milk thistle (Silybum marianum (L.) Gaerate), a field experiment was done at Agricultural College of Shahid Chamran University during 2009-2010. Experimental design was split plot on RCBD with three replications. Main plot was sowing dates including (14Nov, 1 Dec and 15 Dec) and sub plot was different fertilization levels including: F1: control, F2:100% chemical fertilizer (100-120-150 kg/ha NPK, respectively), F3: %25 organic fertilizer + %75 chemical fertilizer (75-90-112.5 kg/ha NPK + 7.5 ton/ha animal manure), F4: %50 organic fertilizer + %50 chemical Fertilizer (50-60-75 kg/ha NPK + 15 ton/ha animal manure), F5: %75 organic Fertilizer + %25 chemical fertilizer (25-30-37.5 kg/ha NPK + 22.5 ton/ha animal manure), F6: %100 organic fertilizer (30 ton/ha animal manure). Results showed that sowing date had significant effect on the percentage of phenol and flavenoid and the amount of silymarin. Late sowing date (15 dec) decreased grain silymarin content, while the highest percentage of phenol and flavenoid was obtained at 15 Dec. Also, the highest percentage of flavenoid, flavenoid yield and silymarin yield were obtained at 100% chemical fertilizer and integrated fertilizer. In this regard, F2 treatment had no advantage compared to integrated fertilization levels. Also, the highest percentage and yield of phenol was obtained by integrated fertilizer methods. The highest silymarin content was related to F6, and the highest grain antioxidant activity was related to F4 and F6, respectively.

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