Effects of vermicompost and nitroxin application on flower yield, yield components and essential oil quality of marigold (Calendula officinalis L.)

In order to study the effects of organic and bio-fertilizers application on flower yield, yield components and essential oil quality of marigold (Calendula officinalis L.), an experiment was conducted as randomized complete blocks design with six treatments and three replications at Sohanak in Tehran of Iran in 2014. The treatments were 6 t/ha vermicompost, 12 t/ha vermicompost, 18 t/ha vermicompost, 6 t/ha vermicompost nitroxin, 12 t/ha vermicompost nitroxin and 18 t/ha vermicompost nitroxin. The results showed that treatments had significant effects on studied traits (except essential oil content), as the highest flower no./plant, dry weight of flower, dried yield of flower, essential oil yield and α-cadinol percent in essential oil in treatment of application of 6 t/ha vermicompost and the highest gamma cadinene percent and muurolene in essential oil in treatment of integrated application of 6 t/ha vermicompost and nitroxin were obtained. Also, the highest dry weight of plant and viridiflorene percent in essential oil in treatment of application of 12 t/ha vermicompost and the highest cadinene percent in essential oil in treatment of application of 18 t/ha vermicompost were obtained. Generally, the highest flower and essential oil yields and α-cadinol percent in essential oil with application of 6 t/ha vermicompost were obtained.