In collaboration with Scientific Association of Iranian Medicinal Plants

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Islamic Azad University, Roudehen Branch, Roudehen

2 Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Islamic Azad University, Roudehen Branch, Roudehen, Iran

3 Department of Soil Biology, Soil and Water Research Institute, Karaj, Iran

Abstract

To study the effects of vermicompost and biofertilizer on quantity and quality (anethole, gama-himachalene and estragole content) of essential oil in anise (Pimpinella anisum L.), an experiment was conducted at Homand Research Station in Damavand, Iran in 2009. The factors were vermicompost (0, 5, 10 t/ha) and phosphatic biofertilizer (non-inoculated, inoculated seed and inoculated seed + spraying on soil in stem elongation stage). The experimental design was factorial based on randomized complete blocks design with nine treatments and three replications. According to the results, the highest essential oil content in seed and the maximum anethole content in essential oil were obtained at 10 t/ha  and 5 t/ha vermicompost treatment, respectively. Also, the lowest gama-himachalene content and estragole content in essential oil was obtained at 5 t/ha vermicompost treatment. Phosphatic biofertilizer also showed significant effects on the mentioned characters, as the highest essential oil content in seed and anethole content in essential oil and the minimum gama-himachalene content and estragole content in essential oil were obtained in two times application of phosphatic biofertilizer. The intractions effect of biofertilizer and vermicompost on gama-himachalene content and estragole content in essential oil were significant, as the lowest gama-himachalene content and estragole content in essential oil were obtained at treatment of 5 t/ha vermicompost and two times application of phosphatic biofertilizer.

Keywords