Influence of Plant Density, Single and Combined Application of Cow Manure and Chemical Fertilizer on Seed and Mucilage Yields in Isabgol (Plantago ovata Forssk.)

بوم شناسی کشاورزی

Article 22, Volume 11, Issue 3 - Serial Number 41, September 2018, Pages 1139-1150   

Document Type: Scientific - Research

DOI: 10.22067/jag.v11i3.72846

Authors

Meysam Khavari¹; Mohammad Ali Behdani^{* 2}; Hamid-Reza Fallahi³

¹birjand

²Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, Birjand University, Birjand, Iran.

³Birjand

Abstract

Introduction
Medicinal plants are valuable resources that they can play an important role in the health of the community, employment, increasing non-oil exports and preventing the genetic erosion of valuable species. The increasing tendency towards herbal medicine in the treatment of diseases, whether globally or internally, makes it unavoidable the necessity of medicinal plants cultivation in agroecosystems. Isabgol (Plantago ovata Forssk.) is an annual herbal medicinal plant from Plantaginaceae family, which about 25℅ of its seed weight is mucilage. It has originated from arid and semi-arid areas and is used widely in traditional and industrial pharmacology. The seeds of isabgol contain fatty oil, carbohydrates, proteins, mineral element and particularly mucilage which has many medical applications. Low water requirement and short growth period, makes this plant suitable for planting in semi-arid areas such as Khorasan. However, to the best of our knowledge, so far, the adaptability, growth, and yield of this plant have not been fully investigated in this area. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of plant density and single or combined application of cow manure (CM) and chemical fertilizers (CF) on yield and yield components of the isabgol.
Materials and Methods
This experiment was arranged as a factorial layout based on a randomized complete block design with three replications at Sarayan Faculty of Agriculture, University of Birjand, Iran during 2017. Fertilization treatments consisted of single (40 t.ha-1 CM and 40 kg.ha-1 CF from the source of NPK) and combined (40 t.ha-1 CM + 20 kg.ha-1 CF and 20 t.ha-1 CM + 40 kg.ha-1 CF) application of organic and chemical fertilizers along with a control (no-fertilizer) which were evaluated at three levels of density (20, 40 and 60 plants. m-2). The measured traits included number of spikes per plant, spike weight, spike length, number of seeds per spike, 1000-seed weight, biological yield, seed yield, harvest index, mucilage percentage, mucilage yield, and seed swelling factor. Data analysis was done using SAS 9.2 and means were compared using FLSD test at a 5% level of probability.
Results and Discussion
Among all studied traits, the only simple effect of fertilizer application on seed and mucilage yields and the simple effect of plant density on seed yield was significant. Seed yield increased when plant density was enhanced, so that, this index was 459, 504 and 673 kg.ha-1 for planting densities of 20, 40 and 60 plants.m-2, respectively. Fertilizers' application in all levels of density decreased the seed yield. The highest seed yield belonged to non-fertilizer application and 60 plants.m-2 with 806.6 kg.ha-1, and the lowest amount of this index was obtained in 40 t CM + 20 kg CF at density of 40 plant m2 with 272.2 kg.ha-1. In terms of mucilage yield, except the treatment of 20 t CM + 40 kg CF which increased this index by 14%, other fertilizer treatments had no-significant different with control. Considering that the most traits related to yield and yield components of isabgol did not affect significantly fertilizer resources, it can be stated that these plants are suitable for low-input production systems. Therefore, it seems that the application of fertilizer resources in crops that are located prior to isabgol in rotation and availability of remaining nutrients can provide the nutritional requirements of this plant.
Conclusion
However, our findings of the response of isabgol to fertilizer application were different from the results of many previous studies on it, which reported that the use of cow manure in isabgol production, not only does not reduce seed and mucilage yield but also improved them. Probably, the amounts of fertilizers used in the current study have been higher in the plant requirements. Therefore, doing complementary studies with lower levels of fertilizers can be recommended.  

Keywords

Medicinal plants; seed swelling factor; spike; Sustainable agriculture; Thousand grain weight

References

Asadi, G., Momen, A., Nurzadeh Namaghi, M., and Khorramdel, S. 2015. Effects of different fertilizer treatments on quantitative and qualitative characteristics of isabgol (Plantago ovata). Journal of Horticultural Science 29(1): 47-54. (In Persian with English Summary)

Asghari Pourchman, M. 2001. Effects of planting date and seed amount per unit area on morphological characteristics and medicinal plant quality isabgol (Plantago ovata L). MSc Dissertation, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran. (In Persian with English Summary)

Davazdah Emami, S., and Majnoon Hosseini, N. 2008. Cultivation and Production of Medicinal Plants and Species. Tehran University Press, Iran. pp. 39-49. (In Persian)

Dorry, M.A. 2006. Effects of seed rate and planting dates on seed yield and yield components of Plantago ovata in dry farming. Iranian Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants 22(3): 262-269. (In Persian with English Summary)

Fallahi, H.R., Taherpour Kalantari, R., Asadian, A.H., Aghhavani-Shajari, M., and Ramazani, H.R. 2018. Effect of different soil fertilizing agents on growth and yield of isabgol and black seed as two medicinal plants. Iranian Journal of Field Crop Science, In Press. (In Persian with English Summary)

Fallahi, H.R., and Mahmoodi, S. 2018. Influence of organic and chemical fertilization on growth and flowering of saffron under two irrigation regimes. Saffron Agronomy & Technology 6(2): 147-166. (In Persian with English Summary)

Ghanbari, A., Ahmadian, A., and Gelavi, M. 2009. Effect of irrigation frequency on yield and yield components of cumin (Cuminum cyminum). Iranian Journal of Agricultural Research 3(2): 262-255. (In Persian with English Summary)

Ghasemi Siani, E., Fallah, S., and Tadayyon, A. 2011. Study on yield and seed quality of Plantago ovata Forssk under different nitrogen treatments and deficit irrigation. Iranian Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants 27(3): 517-528. (In Persian with English Summary)

Ghasemi, K., Fallah, S., Raeisi, F., and Heidari, M. 2014. The effect urea and biological fertilizers on quantitative and qualitative yield of isabgol (Plantago ovata Forsk.) medicinal plant. Journal of Plant Production 20(4): 101-116. (In Persian with English Summary)

Hendawy, S.F. 2008. Comparative study of organic and mineral fertilization on Plantago arenarria plant. Journal of Applied Sciences Research 4(5): 500-506.

Kalyanasundaram, N.K., Patel, P.B., and Dalal, K.C. 1982. Nitrogen need of Plantago ovata Forsk. in relation to the available nitrogen in soil. Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences 52(4): 240-242.

Koocheki, A., Tabrizi, L., and Nassiri Mahallati, M. 2004. Organic cultivation of Plantago ovata and Plantago psyllium in response to water stress. Iranian Journal of Field Crops Research 2: 67-79. (In Persian with English Summary)

Mosavi, S.G.R., Segatoleslami, M.J. and Pooyan, M. 2012. Effect of planting date and plant density on yield and seed yield components of Plantago ovata L. Iranian Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants 27(4): 681-699. (In Persian with English Summary)

Nasirzade, S., Fallah, S., Kiani, S., and Mohammadkhani, A. 2005. Effect of different levels of cow manure and urea on quantitative and qualitative characteristics of isabgol (Plantago ovata Forssk.). Iranian Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants 31(1): 41-51. (In Persian with English Summary)

Neisani, S., Fallah, S., and Raiesi, F. 2012. The effect of poultry manure and urea on agronomic characters of forage maize under drought stress conditions. Journal of Sustainable Agriculture and Production Science 21(4): 63-76.

Pouryousef, M., Mazaheri, D., Chaiechi, M.R., Rahimi, A., and Tavakoli, A. 2011. Effect of different soil fertilizing treatments on some of agro-morphological traits and mucilage of isabgol (Plantago ovata Forsk.). Electronic Journal of Crop Production 3(2): 193-213.

Pouryousef, M., Mazaheri, D., Chaiechi, M.R., Rahimi, A., and Jafari, A.A. 2014. Effects of different soil fertilizing treatments (chemical, organic and integrated) on yield, yield components and seed mineral nutrients content of Isabgol (Plantago ovata Forsk.). Agronomy Journal (Pajouhesh & Sazandegi) 102: 82-91. (In Persian with English Summary)

Rahimi, A., Jahansozb, M.R., Madah Hoseini, S., Sajjadinia, A.R., Roosta, H.R., and Fateh, E. 2011.Water use and water-use efficiency of Isabgol (Plantago ovata) and French psyllium (Plantago psyllium) in different irrigation regimes. Australian Journal of Crop Science 5(1): 71-77.

Rahimi, M., Jahansoz, M.R., and Rahimian Mashhadi, H.R. 2014. effect of drought stress and plant density on quantity and quality charactristics of isabgol (plantago ovata) and french psyllium. Journal of Crop Production and Processing 12:143-156

Sabagh Nekonam, M., and Razmjoo, K.H. 2007. Effect of plant density on yield, yield components and effective medicine ingredients of blond psyllium (Plantago ovata Forsk.) accession. International Journal of Agriculture and Biology 9(4): 606-609.

Shah, Z., and Ahmad, M.I. 2006. Effect of integrated use of farm yard manure and urea on yield and nitrogen uptake of wheat. Journal of Agricultural and Biological Science 1(1): 60-65.

Sharma, P.K., and Koul, A.K. 1986. Mucilage in seeds of Plantago ovata and its wild allies. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 17(3): 289-295.

Yadav, R.L., Keshwa, G.L., and Yadav, S.S. 2003. Effect of integrated use of FYM and sulfur on growth and yield of isabgol. Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Sciences 25: 668-671.