Study the morphological characteristics affecting yield of Echium amoenum under different organic and chemical fertilizers and plant densities

In order to study the morphological characteristics affecting yield of Echium amoenum under different nutritional treatments and different plant densities, a factorial experiment based on RCBD design with three replications was conducted at Agricultural Research Station, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran in 2011-2013 growing seasons. The experimental treatments were all combination of three plant densities (10, 5 and 3 plant.m-2) and five different types of organic and chemical fertilizers (compost, vermicompost, cow manure, chemical fertilizer and control). Results showed that organic fertilizers increased flower yield compared to control treatment. The flower yield of compost, vermicompost and cow manure treatments were 25, 28, and 27 percent more than control, respectively. Results of multivariate regression showed that variables of plant height, shoot dry weight, and number of flower per plant were the main factors affecting yield of flower; meanwhile, the relative contribution of shoot dry weight was approximately 16 and 25 percent more than plant height and number of flowers per plant, respectively. Based on the results of path analysis, shoot dry weight per plant had indirect effect on yield flower in different ways, but most of its indirect effect was imposed through plant height on the yield flower.