The effect of zeolite, PGPR and vermicompost application on N, P, K concentration, essential oil content and yield in organic cultivation of German Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.)

In order to study the effects of zeolite, bio and organic fertilizers on N, P, K concentration, essential oil content and yield in organic cultivation of German Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla), a factorial experiment in randomized complete blocks design with twelve treatments and three replications was conducted in the faculty of agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, 2005. The factors were PGPR inoculums (inoculated and no inoculated), zeolite (0 and 9 tons/ha) and vermicompost (0, 5, 10 tons/ha). Results showed that the highest concentration of N, P and K in plant, essential oil content and yield were obtained with PGPR inoculums. Zeolite also showed significant effects on the mentioned traits except P concentration. With application of zeolite 9 ton/ha, essential oil content, essential oil yield, N and K concentration were increased. Essential oil content, essential oil yield, N, P and K concentration were also increased with increasing of vermicompost levels as the highest values were obtained with application of 10 ton/ha vermicompost. There was positive and synergistic interaction between PGPR inoculums and vermicompost on N concentration as the highest and lowest N concentration percentage in herb were obtained in treatments of V3B2 (1.48) and V1B1 (1.12), respectively. According to the results, it appears that application of 10 tons vermicompost, inoculation with PGPR and 9 tons zeolite was the best treatment in production of German chamomile essential oil yield in organic system.