Enhancing Growth and Flower Quality of Chamomile (Matricaria chamomila L.) Through Integration of Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers

Abstract

Three experiments were conducted under the title ―Enhancing growth and flower quality of chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) through integration of organic and inorganic fertilizers‖ at Fruit and Vegetable Nursery Harama, The Department of Agriculture Muzaffarabad during 2016-2018. Different organic sources [Farmyard manure (FYM), poultry manure (PM) and humic acid (HA)] were integrated with inorganic sources (Urea, Triple Super Phosphate and Sulphate of Potash) to enhance the growth and flower quality of chamomile. Results showed that integration of NPK with different organic sources in different combinations significantly affected the quality of flowers produced. Experiment first entitled ―Integrated effect of inorganic fertilizer with farmyard manure and humic acid for improving growth and flower quality of chamomile‖. Recommended dose of NPK @ 100:50:50 kg ha-1was integrated with HA @ 5 kg ha-1 and FYM @ 20 tons ha-1 in different combinations. Results showed that minimum days to flowering (79.68), number of flowers plant-1 (122.67), flower diameter (1.27 cm), hundred flowers fresh weight (4.19 g), fresh flowers yield (1109.2 kg ha-1 ), dried flowers yield (502.21 kg ha-1 ) and essential oil (0.17%) were recorded in control. An increase was observed in days to flowering (87.9), number of flowers plant-1 (180.3), flower diameter (1.5 cm), hundred flowers fresh weight (10 g), fresh flowers yield (1688.4 kg ha-1 ), dried flowers yield (622.8 kg ha-1 ) and essential oil (0.26%) in plots supplied with full NPK@ 100:50:50 kg ha-1 . However, maximum days to flowering (107.1), number of flowers plant-1 (291.5), flower diameter (2.2 cm), hundred flowers fresh weight (14.9 g), fresh flowers yield (2251.6 kg ha-1 ), dried flowers (1054.7 kg ha-1 ) and volatile oil content (0.38%) were observed in plants treated with NPK in ratio 100;50;50 kg + HA @ 5 kg + FYM @ 20 tons per hectare. Data related to phytochemical analysis and biological activities showed a decline with increasing the dose of inorganic source (NPK). Maximum concentration for total phenolic content (TPC 8 mg g-1DW), total flavonoid content (TFC 554.4 µg mg-1 DW) and antioxidant activity (76.4 % DW) were recorded in plants receiving NPK @ 50:25:25 kg + HA @ 5 kg + FYM @ 20 tons ha-1 followed by 7.82 mg g-1DW, 542 µg mg-1 DW and 70.5 % in plots supplied with NPK @ 50:25:25 kg + HA @ 2.5 kg + FYM @ 10 tons ha-1 respectively. Decline in TPC (5.27 mg g-1 DW), TFC (274.80 µg mg-1 DW) and antioxidant activity (57.81 % DW) were recorded in control. However, minimum TPC (3 mg g-1 DW), TFC (214.3 µg mg-1 DW) and antioxidant activity (32.4 % DW) were observed in plants supplied with NPK @ 100:50:50. Same trend was observed for the antibacterial activity of chamomile against the four tested bacterial strains [Escherichia coli (mm), Staphylococcus aureus (mm), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (mm) and Klebsiella pneumonia (mm)]. xii The data from second experiment ―Integrated effect of inorganic fertilizer with poultry manure and humic acid for improving growth and flower quality of chamomile‖ showed superior results in days to flowering (85.81), numbers of flower (220.33), flower size (1.91 cm), hundred flowers fresh weight (13.58 g), fresh flowers yield (1957.87 kg ha-1 ), dried flowers yield (776.11 kg ha-1 ) and volatile oil content (0.37%) were recorded in plants grown with NPK @ 100;50;50 + HA @ 5 kg + PM @ 10 tons per hectare. Concerning screening of phytochemical and biological activities maximum values for TPC (6.73 mg g-1 DW), TFC (514.13 µg mg-1 DW) and antioxidant activity (72.76 %) were recorded in plants receiving NPK @ 50:25:25 + HA @ 5 kg + PM @ 10 tons closely followed by 6.62 mg g-1DW, 493.07 µg mg -1 DW and 69.93 % in treatment receiving NPK @ 50:25:25 + HA @ 2.5 kg + PM @ 5 tons ha-1 correspondingly. Experiment third ―Integrated effect of inorganic fertilizers with different organic sources on growth and flower quality of chamomile‖ was conducted at the second year of field research. The data showed maximum days to flowering (124.6), number of flowers plant-1 (295.2), flower diameter (2.51 cm), hundred flowers fresh weight (18.84 g), fresh flowers yield (2310.12 kg ha-1 ), dried flowers (1025.4 kg ha-1 ) and volatile oil (0.39%) were observed in plants receiving NPK@ 100:50:50 + FYM @ 20 tons + PM @ 10 tons + HA @ 5 kg ha-1 closely pursued by 123.5, 294.3, 2.49 cm, 18.69 g, 2278.0 kg ha-1 , 998.55 kg ha-1 and 0.38% respectively in plots supplied with NPK @ 100:50:50 + FYM @ 10 tons+ PM @ 10 tons + HA @ 5 kg ha-1 . Data pertaining to phytochemicals and biochemical activities showed that the higher concentrations of TPC (8.1 mg g-1DW), TFC (500.8 µg mg-1 DW) and antioxidant activity (77 %) were observed in treatment having NPK @ 50:25:25 + FYM @ 10 tons + PM @ 10 tons + HA @ 5 kg ha-1 closely followed by 7.99 mg g-1 DW, 496.6 µg mg-1 DW and 75.45 % in treatment having NPK @ 50:25:25 +FYM @ 10 tons + PM @ 10 tons + HA @ 2.5 kg ha-1 correspondingly.