Sustainable Enhancement of Satureja hortensis L. Through Combined Application of Vermicompost and Vermiwash

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 M.Sc. Graduate in Agroecology, Faculty of Agriculture, Higher education complex of Shirvan. Shirvan, Iran

2 Assistant Professor, Faculty of Agriculture, Higher education complex of Shirvan. Shirvan, Iran

3 Assistant Professor Department of Plant Production and Genetics, Shirvan Faculty of Agriculture, University of Bojnord, Bojnord, Iran

Abstract

To investigate the effects of different fertilizer management strategies on the production of the medicinal plant Satureja hortensis L., a field experiment was conducted during the 2014–2015 growing season at the Research Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, Shirvan, using a randomized complete block design with three replications. The experimental treatments included: T1 (control), T2 (vermicompost), T3 (complete chemical fertilizer), T4 (vermiwash foliar spray), T5 (50% vermicompost + 50% NPK), T6 (66% vermiwash foliar spray), T7 (33% vermiwash foliar spray), T8 (100% vermiwash + 50% NPK), T9 (66% vermiwash + 50% NPK), and T10 (33% vermiwash + 50% NPK). The results showed that the highest plant height (47.04 cm), largest internode length (4.04 cm), highest number of lateral branches (27.67), essential oil percentage (2.77 g), and essential oil yield (10.93 g m⁻²) were observed under the vermicompost treatment. The highest number of nodes (15.43) was recorded in the 66% vermiwash treatment, while the largest stem diameter (0.60 cm), fresh weight (904.17 g m⁻²), and dry weight (452.09 g m⁻²) were obtained in the 50% NPK + 50% vermicompost treatment. The highest chlorophyll a (1.08 mg g⁻¹) and total chlorophyll (1.54 mg g⁻¹) contents were recorded under the 100% vermiwash treatment. Overall, the results of this study indicate that the application of organic and biofertilizers positively affected the quantitative and qualitative traits of Satureja hortensis. Therefore, the optimal use of natural inputs can support the production of high-quality, sustainable medicinal plants.

Keywords

References

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