The effect of different levels of organic and chemical fertilizers on yield and different nitrogen efficiency indeces of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.)

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Agricultural Research Education and extension Organization (AREEO), Tehran, Iran

2 Research Division of Natural Resources , East Azerbaijan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center , Agricultural Research, Education and extension Organization (AREEO), Tabriz, Iran.

10.22034/saps.2024.60339.3174

Abstract

  
Background and objectives: Optimizing nitrogen management is one of the major challenges in the sustainable production of medicinal plants, as it not only enhances yield but also plays a crucial role in reducing the use of chemical inputs and mitigating environmental pollution. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different levels of organic and chemical fertilizers, applied individually and in combination, on yield and various nitrogen use efficiency indices, including nitrogen uptake, physiological nitrogen use efficiency, and nitrogen productivity, in the medicinal plant rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.).
 
Materials and Methods: The experiment was conducted as a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with 16 treatments and three replications. The treatments included V (vermicompost at two levels of 5 and 15 t ha⁻¹), M (cow manure at two levels of 10 and 20 t ha⁻¹), and NPK fertilizers derived from urea, triple superphosphate, and potassium oxide (containing 83% K), applied at two rates of 25:25:50 and 50:50:100 kg ha⁻¹, respectively.
  
Results: The highest plant height, leaf yield, biological yield, nitrogen uptake, and nitrogen uptake efficiency were obtained from the combined application of 10 t ha⁻¹ cow manure + N₅₀P₂₅K₂₅ + 5 t ha⁻¹ vermicompost. The greatest nitrogen productivity based on essential oil yield and leaf yield, with mean values of 0.001 and 0.14 g yield per g absorbed nitrogen, respectively, was recorded in the integrated treatment of 10 t ha⁻¹ cow manure + 5 t ha⁻¹ vermicompost + NPK (50:25:25) (T15). In contrast, the lowest nitrogen productivity values, averaging 0.00043 and 0.06 g yield per g absorbed nitrogen, respectively, were observed in the control treatment (T0).
 
Conclusion: The findings of this study demonstrate that integrated nutrient management based on the combined use of organic and chemical fertilizers not only enhances yield and growth indices of rosemary but also significantly improves nitrogen uptake efficiency, physiological nitrogen use efficiency, and nitrogen productivity. The superiority of the integrated treatment consisting of 10 t ha⁻¹ cow manure, 5 t ha⁻¹ vermicompost, and NPK at a rate of 50:25:25 indicates that the gradual release of nutrients from organic sources, combined with balanced chemical fertilization, plays a key role in increasing nitrogen use efficiency and reducing nitrogen losses. This approach reduces dependence on chemical fertilizers and limits negative environmental impacts such as nutrient leaching and soil pollution, thereby facilitating sustainable and economically viable production of medicinal plants. Accordingly, integrated nutrient management can be recommended as an effective strategy for medicinal plant production systems, particularly under agro-climatic conditions similar to those of the Karaj region. The results further emphasize the need to revise conventional nitrogen application practices and move toward sustainable fertilization systems focused on improving input use efficiency.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

Abdullah AT, Hanafy MS, EL-Ghawwas EO and Ali ZH. 2012. Effect of compost and some bio fertilizers on growth, yield, essential oil productivity and chemical composition of Rosmarinus officinalis, L. plants. Journal of Horticultural Science & Ornamental Plants, 4 (2): 201-214. DOI: 10.5829/idosi.jhsop.2012.4.2.248
Ansari AA. 2008. Effect of vermicompost and vermiwash on the productivity of spinach (Spinacia oleracea), onion (Allium cepa) and potato (Solanum tuberosum). World Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 4(5), 554-557.
Amara DG and Mourad S. 2013. Influence of organic manure on the vegetative growth and tuber production of potato (Solanum tuberosum L varspunta) in a Sahara desert region. International Journal of Agriculture and Crop Sciences, 5 (22): 2724-2731.
Ameri A, Nassiri M and Rezvani Moghadam P. 2007. Effects of different nitrogen levels and plant density on flower, essential oils and extract production and nitrogen use efficiency of marigold (Calendula officinalis L.). Iranian Journal of Field Crops Research, 5(2): 315-325. (In Persian). DOI: 10.22067/gsc.v5i2.1153
Arancon NQ, Edwards CA, Bierman P, Welch C and Metzger JD. 2004. Influences of vermicomposts on field strawberries: 1. Effects on growth and yields. Bioresource Technology, 93(2): 145-153.  DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2003.10.014
Arévalo CA, Castillo B and Londoño MT. 2013. Mechanical properties of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) stalks. Postharvest Physiology and Technology, 31 (2): 201-207.
Asadi GA, Momen A, Nurzadeh Namaghi N and Khorramdel S. 2014. Effects of Different Fertilizer Treatments on Quantitative and Qualitative Characteristics of Isabgol (Plantago ovata). Journal of Horticultural Science, 29(1): 47-54.  (In Persian). https://doi.org/10.22067/jhorts4.v0i0.48440
Ashraf M, Ali Q and ES Rha. 2006. Effect of varying nitrogen regimes on growth, seed yield, and nutrient accumulation in Isabgol. Journal of Plant Nutrition, 29: 535-542. https://doi.org/10.1080/01904160500526600
Azizi Kh. 2017. Biofertilizers and drought stress effects on yield and yield components of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill). Journal of Medicinal Plants and By-products, 1: 17-25. 10.22092/jmpb.2017.113146
Azizi M, Rezwanee F, Khayyat MH, Lackzian A, Neamati H. 2008. The effect of different levels of vermicompost and irrigation on morphological properties and essential oil content of German chamomile (Matricaria recutita) CV Goral. Planta Medica, 74(1): 82-93 (In Persian)
Banjaw DTB, Wolde TG, Gebre A and Mengesha B. 2016. Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) variety verification trial at wondogenet, south ethiopia. Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, 5 (5): 267. doi: 10.4172/2167-0412.1000267. DOI: 10.4172/2167-0412.1000267
Bano MJ, Lorente J, Castillo J, Benavente O, Rio JA, Ortuno A, Quirin KW and Gerard D. 2003. Phenolic diterpenes, flavons and rosmarinic acid distribution during the development of leaves, flowers and Roots of Rosmarinus officinalis antioxidant activity. Journal Agriculture and Food Chemistry,51, 47-53. DOI: 10.4172/2167-0412.1000267
Bingham IJ, Karley AJ, White PJ, Thomas WTB and Russell JR. 2012. Analysis of improvements in nitrogen use efficiency associated with 75 years of spring barley breeding. European Journal of Agronomy, 42: 49-58. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eja.2011.10.003
Chapman HD and Pratt PF. 1961. Methods of analysis for soils, plants and waters, University of California, Division of Agricultural Science.
Chatterjee SK. 2002. Cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants in India a commercial approach. Proceedings of an International Conference on MAP. Acta Horticulture (ISHS), 576: 191-202. https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2002.576.28
Darshan S. 2004. Patented anti-inflammatory plant drug development from traditional medicine. Phytotherapy Research, 18: 343-357. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.1475
Darwish OH, Persaud N and Martens DC.1995. Effect of long-term application of animal manure on physical properties of three soils. Plant and Soil, 176: 289-295. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00011793
Fageria C, Li YC and Baligar V. 2008. The role of nutrient efficient plants in improving crop yields in the twenty first century. Journal of Plant Nutrition, 31, 1121-1157. https://doi.org/10.1080/01904160802116068
Fu Y, Zu Y, Chen LY, Shi XG, Wang Z, Sun S and Efferth T. 2007. Antimicrobial activity of clove and rosemary essential oils alone and in combination. Phytotherapy Research, 21: 989-994. DOI: 10.1002/ptr.2179
Gargini Shabankareh H and Khorasani Nejad S. 2016. The effect of biological fertilizer and salicylic acid on yield and quality of rosemary in drought stress. Journal of Crop Improvement, 19(2): 475-491. (In Persian). https://doi.org/10.22059/jci.2017.60421
Gastal F and Lemaire G. 2002. N uptake and distribution in crops: An agronomical and cophysiological perspective. Journal of Experimental Botany, 53: 789-799. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jexbot/53.370.789
Hassan EA, Ali AF and El Gohary AE. 2015. Enhancement of growth, yield and chemical constituents of Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) plants by application of compost and biofertilization treatments. Middle East Journal of Agriculture Research, 4(1): 99-111.
Haile D, Nigussie D and Ayana A. 2012. Nitrogen use efficiency of bread wheat: Effects of nitrogen rate and time of application. Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, 12 (3): 389-409. http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0718-95162012005000002
Hosseini Valiki SR and Ghanbari S. 2015. Comparative examination of the effect of manure and chemical fertilizers on yield and yield components of rosemary (Rosemarinus officinalis L.). International Journal of Agronomy and Agricultural Research, 6(2): 29-37.
Khorasaninejad S, Mousavi A, Soltanloo H, Hemmati Kh and Khalighi A. 2011. The effect of drought stress on growth parameters, essential oil yield and constituent of Peppermint (Mentha piperita L.). Journal of Medicinal Plants Research, 5(22): 5360-5365. https://doi.org/10.5897/JMPR.9001196
Kolata E, Beresniiewicz A, Krezel J, Nowosielshi L and Slow O. 1992. Slow release fertlizers on organic carriers as the source of N for vegetable crops production in the open field. Acta- Horticaulhtre, 339: 241-249.
Kosaka K and Yokoi T. 2003. Carnosic acid, a component of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.), promotes synthesis of nerve growth factor in T98G human glioblastoma cells. Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 26: 1620-1622. DOI: 10.1248/bpb.26.1620
Kumar V and Singh KP. 2001. Enriching vermicompost by nitrogen fixing and phosphate solubilizing bacteria. Bioresource Technology, 76(2): 173-175. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0960-8524(00)00061-4
Larrondo JV, Agut M and Calvo TM. 1995. Antimicrobial activity of essence from labiates. Microbios, 82:171-172.
Li L, Sun J, Zhang F, Li X, Yang S and Rengel Z. 2001. Wheat/maize or wheat/soybean strip intercropping: 1. yield advantage and interspecific interactions on nutrient. Field Crops Research, 71(2): 123-137. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-4290(01)00156-3
Liang B, Yang XY, He XH and Zhou JB. 2011. Effects of 17 years fertilization on soil microbial biomass C and N and soluble organic C and N in loessial soil during maize growth. Biology and Fertility of Soils, 47(2): 121-128. 10.1007/s00374-010-0511-7
Mahmuti M, West JS, Watts J, Gladders P and Fitt BDL. 2009. Controlling crop disease contributes to both food security and climate change mitigation. International Journal Agricultural sustainability, 7:189–202. https://doi.org/10.3763/ijas.2009.0476.
Martinez-Lirola MJ, Gonzalez-Tejero MR and Molero-Mesa J. 1996. Ethanobotanical resources in the province of Almeria, Spain: Campos de Nijar. Economic Botany, 50:40-56.
Matkowski A. 2008. Plant in vitro culture for the production of antioxidants-A review. Biotechnology Advances, 26: 548-560. DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2008.07.001
Moles DJ, Rangai SS, Bourke RM  and Kasamani CT. 1984. Fertilizer Responses of Taro in Papua New Guinea. In: Edible Aroids. Chandra, S. (Ed.). Clarendon Press, Oxford, pP. 64-71.
Mostafa HSh. 2019. Effect of organic and inorganic fertilizers on growth, herbs product and chemical composition of rosemary plants (Rosmarinus offcinalis L.). International Journal of Farming and Allied Sciences, 8 (1): 5-13.
Najar IA and Khan AB. 2013. Effect of vermicompost on growth and productivity of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) under field conditions. Acta Biologica Malaysiana, 2(1): 12-21. DOI: 10.7593/abm/2.1.12
Pan G, Zhou P, Li Zh, Smith P, Li L, Qiu D, Zhang X, Xu X, Shen Sh and Chen X. 2009. Combined inorganic/organic fertilization enhances N efficiency and increases rice productivity through organic carbon accumulation in a rice paddy from the Tai Lake region, China. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 131: 274-280. doi:10.1016/j.agee.2009.01.020.
Pouryousef M, Chaichi MR and Mazaheri D. 2007. Effect of different soil fertilizing systems on seed and mucilage yield and seed P content of isabgol (Plantago ovata Forsk.). Plant Sciences, 6: 1088-1092. DOI: 10.3923/ajps.2007.1088.1092
Saxena A. 2004. Effect of nitrogen levels and harvesting management on quality of essential oil in peppermint cultivars. Indian. Perf. 33(3), 182-185.
Singh M and Ramesh S. 2002. Response of sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum) to organic and inorganic fertilizer in semi-arid tropical conditions. Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Sciences, 24(4): 947-950.
Singh M. 2012. Influence of organic mulching and nitrogen application on essential oil yield and nitrogen use efficiency of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.). Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science, 59: 273-279. DOI:10.1080/03650340.2011.608157
Tahami Zarandi MK, Rezvani-Moghadam P and Jahani M. 2010. Comparison of organic and chemical yield and herbal essential oils of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.). Agroecology, 2(1): 70-82. (In Persian).
Timsina J, Singh U, Badaruddin M, Meisner C and Amin MR. 2001. Cultivar, nitrogen, and water effects on productivity, and nitrogen-use efficiency and balance for rice–wheat sequences of Bangladesh. Field Crops Research. 72:143-161. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-4290(01)00171-X
Toyoshi U, Kimiyo N, Hiroyasu I, Kiyomi K, Misao S and Masatoshi M. 2006. Anticonflict effects of lavender oil and identification of its active constituents. Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior, 85:713-721. DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2006.10.026
Vats M, Sehgal D and Mehta D. 2001. Integrated effect of organic and inorganic manuring on yield sustainability in long-term fertilizer experiments. Indian Journal of Agriculture Research, 35: 19-24.
Warman PR and AngLopez MJ. 2010. Vermicompost derived from different feedstocks as a plant growth medium. Bioresource Technology, 101(12): 4479-4483. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2010.01.098
Zhang D, Li W, Xin C, Tang W, Eneji AE and Dong H. 2012. Lint yield and nitrogen use efficiency of field-grown cotton vary with soil salinity and nitrogen application rate. Field Crops Research, 138: 63-70.  10.1016/j.fcr.2012.09.013 
Zhao J. 2006. The effect of nitrogen fertilization on spearmint. Journal of Essential Oil Research, 18: 452-455.
Journal of Agricultural Science and Sustainable Production
Volume 35, Issue 4
2026
Pages 95-108

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics