The effects of vermicompost and urea fertilizers on nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium uptake in marshmallow (Altheae officinalis L.) organs

In order to investigate the effects of vermicompost and urea chemical fertilizers on nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium uptake in marshmallow (Altheae officinalis L.) organs, a field experiment was conducted at Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran, in 2012. Experiment was conducted using a completely randomized blocks design based on factorial arrangement with three replications. Experimental treatments were three levels of vermicompost (0, 5 and 10 ton.ha-1) and five levels of urea fertilizer (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% of 200 kg N ha-1). Vermicompost application in each urea fertilizer level had an effective role in increasing nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium percentages in seed, leaf and root of marshmallow. By applying 10 ton vermicompost ha-1, phosphorus percentage in seed of marshmallow was increased by 29.5 %, as compared to control treatment. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium contents in seed, leaf and root of marshmallow were significantly increased by vermicompost application. Urea fertilizer caused a significant increase in nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium percentages in seed, leaf and root of marshmallow. According to the results, there was a positive relationship between nitrogen uptake with phosphorus and potassium uptake.