Investigation of organic and chemical fertilizer on the essential oil and seed yield of Moldavian balm (Dracocephalum moldavica L.)

In order to examine the impact of biofertilizer on the essential oil and seed yield of Moldavian balm, a factorial experiment with a randomized complete block design and three replications were designed at the Khoy Agricultural Research Center in the West Azerbaijan Province. Five fertilization levels were applied: 100% urea (70 kg N ha−1), 75% urea (52.5 kg N ha−1) + 25% azocompost (3.85 ton ha-1), 50% urea (35 kg N ha−1) + 50% azocompost (7.77 ton ha-1), 25% urea (17.5 kg N ha−1) + 75% azocompost (11.55 ton ha-1), and 100% azocompost (1555 ton ha-1) on two Moldavian balm landrace (Urmia and the modern cultivar SZK-1).  The results of this study indicated that a 100% urea fertilizer regime produced the highest dry herbage yield. The highest seed yield was achieved with a 100% urea fertilizer application of approximately 1,122 kg ha-1. Inoculating seeds with Azotobacter and Azospirillum bacteria resulted in the highest harvest index, with a value of 22.4 percent. The Urmia landrace genotype had the highest yield of essential oil (20.5 kg ha-1). Based on the findings, the 50% urea + 50% azocompost fertilizer treatment had the greatest effect on the majority of the investigated characteristics.