Effects of Organic Acids, Mycorrhiza and Rhizobacteria on Yield and Some Phytochemical Characteristics in Low-Input Cropping System

No chemical residues in medicinal plants is essential principle in all stages of their production, processing and supply, therefore, the use of ecofriendly inputs in the production of these plants is inevitable. In order to evaluate the effects of ecological inputs on flower and seed yield of Echium amoenum, an experiment was conducted based on RCBD with three replications during 2011-2013 growing seasons, in Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran. Treatments included seven different types of soil amendments and biofertilizers concluded: 1- humic acid, 2- fulvic acid, 3- Nitroxin (containing Azotobacter spp. and Azospirillum spp.), 4- Biophosphorous (containing Bacillus sp. and Pseudomonas sp.), 5- Biosulfur (containing Thiobacillus spp.), 6- Mycorrhiza (Glomus mosseae), 7- Mycorrhiza (Glomus intraradices), and 8- no fertilizer as control. The results showed that humic acid, fulvic acid, biosulfur and Glomus mosseae increased flower yield 36, 27, 26 and 30% respectively and improved seed yield 32, 22, 21 and 16% compared to control, respectively. The highest total phenol obtained in biosulfur treatment. Total anthocyanin in humic and fulvic acids was 38 and 33% more than control, respectively. Biophosphorous and biosulfur biofertilizers increased the antioxidant activity 8 and 7% compared to control, respectively. Glomus mosseae and Glomus intraradices increased seed oil 20 and 15% and seed protein 30 and 18% compared to control, respectively. In general, according to the findings of this study, the use of ecofriendly inputs while reducing the damage caused by chemical fertilizers, improved quantity and quality of Iranian Ox-Tongue.