Shahed University Horticultural Plants Nutrition 2645-4084 3 (Issue 1, spring & summer) 2020 07 22 Effect of density, biological and chemical fertilizers on quantitative and qualitative yield of common chicory (Cichorium intybus) Effect of density, biological and chemical fertilizers on quantitative and qualitative yield of common chicory (Cichorium intybus) 147 162 1193 10.22070/hpn.2020.4990.1059 FA Roghayeh Aminian Assistant Professor, Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Imam Khomeini International University, Qazvin Ali Mehrabadi-Arani Agronomy Department, Naragh Branch, Islamic Azad University, Sudabeh Mafakheri Department of Horticultural Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources Journal Article 2019 12 13 Background and Objectives:Medicinal plants have been one of the main natural resources of Iran from ancient times. Nutritional management has a significant impact on the quantity and quality of plants. The fastest way to supply nutrients for plant is the use of mineral fertilizers. In spite of significant and positive effect of chemical fertilizer on crops production, excessive use of them can reduce crop yield due to loss of soil biological activity, loss of soil physical properties, soil acidification, and soil nutrient imbalance. In addition, the use of chemical fertilizers can cause environmental pollutions. The use of organic manures as alternative sources of chemical fertilizer increased the yield of many plants and reduced the adverse effect of chemical fertilizers. Organic fertilizers also increased soil moisture, reduced soil pH and increased the electrical conductivity and the ability of absorbing soil nutrients. Therefore to study the effects of biological and chemical fertilizers on quantitative and qualitative yield of Cichorium intybus in different densities, this experiment was conducted. Materials and methods:This experiment was conducted as split split plots in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The treatments comprised of nitrogen at three levels (0, 50, 100 kg/ha) as the main plot, density at three levels (6, 9 and 12 plants/m2) as sub plot and bio-fertilizer in three levels (non- inoculation, inoculation with Mycorrhiza and inoculation with Azotobacter) as sub-sub plot. Several quantitative and qualitative traits were measured including leaf number, root length, fresh and dry weight, flavonoid content, nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. Results: Analysis of variance showed the significant effects of treatments on leaves, fresh and dry weight, root length and the amount of plant flavonoids, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Nitrogen consumption based on 100% fertilizer recommendations increased all traits, while the effects of density and bio-fertilizer were different on quantitative and qualitative traits. Seed inoculated with mycorrhiza showed a better result for flavonoid, phosphorus and potassium than seed inoculated with Azotobacter. Among the two-way interaction effects, the density × bio fertilizer and density × the nitrogen fertilizer were significant for plant leaf number and root length. Mean comparison of density × bio fertilizer showed that the highest number of leaves per plant was obtained at density of 6 plant/m2 and Azotobacter inoculation and the highest root length was observed at density of 12 plant/m2 and Azotobacter inoculation. Mean comparison of density × the nitrogen fertilizer showed that the highest leaf number was observed at density of 6 plant. m-2 and 100 kg ha-1 nitrogen fertilizer and the highest root length was obtained at density of 12 plant m-2 and 100 kg ha-1 nitrogen fertilizer. The interaction effect of nitrogen fertilizer, density and bio-fertilizer was significant only for fresh weight. The maximum value of fresh weight (1848.8 g/m2) is related to the application of 100 kg/ha nitrogen fertilizer, the density of 12 plants/m2 and using Azotobacter. These conditions increased fresh weight to168 percent than conditions of lack of nitrogen and bio-fertilizers under the density of 6 plants/m2 (with 688.5 g/m2 fresh weight). Discussion:The results showed that the application of biological fertilizer had a significant effect on improving quantitative and qualitative yield of Cichorium intybus. Furthermore, the combined application of biological fertilizer and chemical fertilizer (based on 100% fertilizer recommendations) in the density of 12 plant/m2 significantly increased root length and weight of the plant. Therefore, biological fertilizers through the improvement of soil structure, and along with chemical fertilizers, increase greatly the quantitative and qualitative yield of plants. Background and Objectives:Medicinal plants have been one of the main natural resources of Iran from ancient times. Nutritional management has a significant impact on the quantity and quality of plants. The fastest way to supply nutrients for plant is the use of mineral fertilizers. In spite of significant and positive effect of chemical fertilizer on crops production, excessive use of them can reduce crop yield due to loss of soil biological activity, loss of soil physical properties, soil acidification, and soil nutrient imbalance. In addition, the use of chemical fertilizers can cause environmental pollutions. The use of organic manures as alternative sources of chemical fertilizer increased the yield of many plants and reduced the adverse effect of chemical fertilizers. Organic fertilizers also increased soil moisture, reduced soil pH and increased the electrical conductivity and the ability of absorbing soil nutrients. Therefore to study the effects of biological and chemical fertilizers on quantitative and qualitative yield of Cichorium intybus in different densities, this experiment was conducted. Materials and methods:This experiment was conducted as split split plots in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The treatments comprised of nitrogen at three levels (0, 50, 100 kg/ha) as the main plot, density at three levels (6, 9 and 12 plants/m2) as sub plot and bio-fertilizer in three levels (non- inoculation, inoculation with Mycorrhiza and inoculation with Azotobacter) as sub-sub plot. Several quantitative and qualitative traits were measured including leaf number, root length, fresh and dry weight, flavonoid content, nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. Results: Analysis of variance showed the significant effects of treatments on leaves, fresh and dry weight, root length and the amount of plant flavonoids, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Nitrogen consumption based on 100% fertilizer recommendations increased all traits, while the effects of density and bio-fertilizer were different on quantitative and qualitative traits. Seed inoculated with mycorrhiza showed a better result for flavonoid, phosphorus and potassium than seed inoculated with Azotobacter. Among the two-way interaction effects, the density × bio fertilizer and density × the nitrogen fertilizer were significant for plant leaf number and root length. Mean comparison of density × bio fertilizer showed that the highest number of leaves per plant was obtained at density of 6 plant/m2 and Azotobacter inoculation and the highest root length was observed at density of 12 plant/m2 and Azotobacter inoculation. Mean comparison of density × the nitrogen fertilizer showed that the highest leaf number was observed at density of 6 plant. m-2 and 100 kg ha-1 nitrogen fertilizer and the highest root length was obtained at density of 12 plant m-2 and 100 kg ha-1 nitrogen fertilizer. The interaction effect of nitrogen fertilizer, density and bio-fertilizer was significant only for fresh weight. The maximum value of fresh weight (1848.8 g/m2) is related to the application of 100 kg/ha nitrogen fertilizer, the density of 12 plants/m2 and using Azotobacter. These conditions increased fresh weight to168 percent than conditions of lack of nitrogen and bio-fertilizers under the density of 6 plants/m2 (with 688.5 g/m2 fresh weight). Discussion:The results showed that the application of biological fertilizer had a significant effect on improving quantitative and qualitative yield of Cichorium intybus. Furthermore, the combined application of biological fertilizer and chemical fertilizer (based on 100% fertilizer recommendations) in the density of 12 plant/m2 significantly increased root length and weight of the plant. Therefore, biological fertilizers through the improvement of soil structure, and along with chemical fertilizers, increase greatly the quantitative and qualitative yield of plants.

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