Effect of Organic and Biological Fertilizers on Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potassium Contents, Photosynthetic Pigments and Active Ingredient in Coneflower (Echinacea Purpurea L.)

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 Khuzestan Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University

2 Razi University

3 Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center of Golestan

Abstract

Introduction
In recent decades, agricultural production has become increasingly dependent on the consumption of chemical inputs to obtain higher yields, which in turn has led to major problems such as environmental pollution and consequently, arresting sustainable production. In order to reduce these hazards, application of resources and inputs must lead to long term-sustainable agriculture system as well as supplying the current needs of plant. Proper plant nutrition and soil fertility management can enhance environment protection and moreover, improve input use efficiency and the quality of water, reduce erosion and maintain biodiversity. The valuable medicinal plant “purple coneflower”, is widely used in pharmaceutical, food, cosmetics and health industries. Although not native to Iran, the plant has been recently categorized as an indigenous plant. This plant has been used in the past for the treatment of snakebite, gums and mouth disorders, colds, cough, and sore throat. In the last 50 years, due to its anti-viral, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties, purple coneflower is globally well-known and its derivatives are categorized as immune system tonics. Nowadays, products of purple coneflower are presented as blood purifier, antiseptic and sedatives. Therefore, according to background of the use of medicinal plants and change in point of view regarding to this kind of crops as well as increasing global demand for the use of these plants in the treatment of diseases, and considering the harms caused by the consumption of chemical drugs, it is necessary to conduct a comprehensive research on medicinal plants.
Materials and Methods
The experiment was carried out as split factorial based on randomized complete block design with four replications in experimental fields of Khuzestan Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University between 2013-2014. Foliar application of vermicompost tea was performed at two levels (with and without tea use) and was assigned to the first factor in main plot; the second factor was organic fertilizer which was applied at three levels (zero application, vermicompost and cow manure); and finally biofertilizer was the third factor and had two level (without biofertilizer application and azospirillum biofertilizer). The latter two factors were assigned to the subplots. In this experiment, some qualitative characteristics such as mineral elements, photosynthetic pigments and the amount of substance active ingredients were evaluated.
Results and Discussion
According to the results, the highest root and total fenol were obtained from vermicompost treatment, whereas the highest leaf nitrogen, stem nitrogen, leaf phosphorus, stem phosphorus, chlorophyll type a, chlorophyll type b, carotenoid, leaf fenol and stem fenol was observed for the combination of vermicompost and tea vermicompost treatments. The highest flower fenol and chicoric acid content was recorded in vermicompost treatment together with azospirillum biofertilizer. On the other hand, the lowest stem and leaf potassium belonged to the combined treatment of tea vermicompost foliar and azospirillum biofertilizer. Generally, organic and bio-fertilizers, directly and indirectly, increased nutrients absorption in coneflower via improving plant access to macro-micro nutrients as a result of altering physico-chemical circumstances, stimulating the activity of beneficial soil microbes, increasing water absorption, availability of macro and micro elements and presence of hormones such as auxin, humic acid and GA3. Foliar spraying of vermicompost as a complementary to soil fertilizers provides quick and direct absorption of nutrients through shoots. Consequently, the treatments applied in this study simultaneously improved the characteristics of purple coneflower and the amount of its active ingredient.
Conclusions
The research showed that the combined treatment of vermicompost and foliar application of vermicompost tea was more feasible in the cultivation of purple coneflower rather than other treatments applied, so it was identified as the ideal treatment.

Keywords

References

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History

  • Receive Date: 17 August 2015
  • Revise Date: 03 September 2017
  • Accept Date: 17 February 2018
  • First Publish Date: 22 June 2018

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