The Effect of Organic and Chemical Fertilizers on Some Quantitative and Qualitative Characteristics of Isabgol (Plantago ovata Forssk.) as a ‎Medicinal Plant

This study aims at investigating the effect of organic, biological, and chemical fertilizers on some quantitative and qualitative traits of local mass of Iranshahr Isabgol, as a medicinal plant during 2018-2019 crop year in a randomized complete block design with 6 treatments and 4 replications in Iranshahr. Fertilizer treatments are no fertilizer application (control), Phosphate Barvar 2 biofertilizer, Phosphate Barvar 3 biofertilizer, Cow manure, Superphosphate triple, and Vermicompost. The results show that fertilizers’ effect on most traits have been significant at the 1% probabilify level. The effect of fertilizer treatments on plant Height and Carbohydrates has not been significant but it has been considerable on Inflation index and Greenness index at 5% probability level. Maximum number of tillers per plant, number of spikes, spike length, fresh weight of plant, swelling index, Carbohydrate, Seed Nitrogen, Seed Potassium, and Greenness index aree obtained under the influence of manure, and traits including root length, plant height, number of seeds per spike, dry weight Plant, 1000-seed weight, plant yield, yield per hectare, Mucilage, Protein, Chlorophyll a, Chlorophyll b, and Total chlorophyll are obtained under the influence of vermicompost. Vermicompost treatment increases grain yield and total chlorophyll by 46.56% and 32.76%, respectively, compared to the control. Also, control and Phosphate Barvar 2 biofertilizer have had the highest swelling and the highest percentage of Seed Phosphorus, respectively. In general, it is concluded that vermicompost has a greater effect on most quantitative and qualitative traits of Isabgol, and its use is recommended.