The Possibility of Replacing Blood Powder Instead of Fe EDDHA Consumption in Melissa Officinalis L.

Iron deficiency is found mainly in plants in calcareous and alkaline soils. Regarding the fact that chemical conditions of the soils are main cause of iron chlorosis, and because of chalet fertilizers are expensive therefore, use of organic and iron-rich organic compounds such as blood powder can be effective in removal of iron chlorosis. Blood can have a beneficial effect on more dissolution of iron compounds. One kg of blood contains 20-30 g iron in ferrous form (Fe2+) in hemoglobin molecule. Therefore, it can use as an effective source of iron. Blood powder is only organic fertilizers containing nitrogen, iron, phosphorus, organic complexes and amino acids useful hormones in plants growth. The process of iron liberation from Blood powder is carried out more rapidly in calcareous soils. Further, decomposition of it reduces soil reaction. Iron is chalet form in Blood which it makes to protect Fe from chemical reactions and conversation into non available forms. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate potential of blood powder in supplying iron of Melissa Officinalis L. The experiment was performed as factorial in a completely randomized design with three levels of Fe-EDDHA (Zero , 2.5 and 5 mg Fe kg-1 soil) and 4 levels of Blood powder (Zero, 0.75, 1.5 and 3 g blood powder kg-1 soil) in Three replication on Melissa Officinalis L. medicinal plant. There were measured dry weight, concentration of Fe, chlorophyll a and b, carotenoids and essential oil content after the end of vegetative growth period.  The results showed that application of Fe-EDDHA and Blood powder increased significantly shoot dry weight, concentration of Fe, chlorophyll, carotenoids and essential oil yield in plant. The maximum of plant dry weight was 141.4 g.pot-1 under conditions of Fe EDDHA and Blood powder intake of 2.5 mg and 1.5 g kg-1 respectively, which it was equal to 22.5% higher than control. Consumption of 5 mg Fe and 3 g.kg-1 blood powder caused 35.1% increase in Fe concentration compared to control. Blood powder consumption increased 13.8, 6.8 and 11.7% in the first, second and third levels of iron, respectively. Chlorophyll b concentration was increased 17.2 and 23.0% by application of mg Fe and 3 g blood powder kg-1 soil, respectively. Concentration averages of carotenoids were 0.31, 0.32 and 0.35 mg.g-1 in the first, second and third levels of iron, respectively. But the averages were 0.31, 0.31, 0.35 and 33.3 mg.g-1 in the first to fourth levels of blood powder, respectively. The amount of essential oil was increased at all levels of iron and blood powder compared to control, which it was obtained 241. 7% increasing with compared to control by application of iron and blood powder of 5 mg and 3 g.kg-1, respectively. The same amount of iron and blood powder produced the maximum essential oil yield (304.5% higher compared to control). In general, the results of the study showed that application of Fe-EDDHA and blood powder increased plant dry matter, iron, chlorophyll and carotenoids concentration and essential oil content of Melissa Officinalis L. However, at higher levels of these treatments, it caused a lower growth in growth and essential oil yield. Regarding the positive effect of iron intake on essential oil yield of Melissa Officinalis L. and on the other hand, considering the cost of iron organic fertilizers, the use of blood powder is recommended in the cultivation of the medicinal plant. Also, due to the lack of apparent symptoms of toxicity at high levels of iron thus, cultivation of Melissa plant is suggested in soils with a medium of Fe pollution. Although it seems more research is needed in this regard.