A field experiment was conducted during the two successive seasons of 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 to study the effect of compost/NPK and biofertilization treatments on vegetative growth, yield and herb NPK % of fennel plants.Obtained results revealed that the best vegetative growth characters (plant height, stem diameter, number of main branches and herb dry weight), yield parameters (number of umbels and fruit yield per plant and per fed) and herb % of NP and K values were obtained due to the use of the full dose of mineral NPK, ¼ compost + ¾ NPK dose or ½ compost + ½ NPK dose with no significant differences being detected between such three fertilization treatments. Concerning biofertilization treatments, all of the prementioned growth, yield and chemical traits were considerably augmented due to the dual treatment (Minia Azotein + phosphorein) followed by Minia Azotein, while phosphorein gave the least values. In regard to the interaction gave between the, two involved factors, the highest growth, yield and chemical composition values were given by fertilizing fennel plants with the full dose of mineral NPK, ¼ compost + ¾ NPK or ½ compost + ½ NPK in combination with dual biofertilizer treatments (Minia Azotein + phosphorein).There for, it could be advised from the economical and environmental point of view, to supply fennel plants with the treatment of ½ compost + ½ NPK dose in combination with both Minia Azotein plus phosphorein in order to obtain the best fruit yield of fennel plants.

The present study was carried out at the Experimental Farm, Horticulture Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Suez Canal University during two seasons of 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 to study the effect of foliar application of seaweeds extract at 2, 4 and 6 ml/l, chitosan at 2, 4 and 6 ml/l and potassium silicate at 6, 9 and 12 ml/l as well as the interaction between seaweeds extract and chitosan on growth, biochemical, and essential oil characteristics of rosemary plants grown in a sandy soil. These compounds were applied as foliar spray three times after 15 days from planting. The results showed that foliar applications of seaweeds extract at 6 ml/l, chitosan at 6 ml/l and potassium silicate at 12 ml/l significantly affected all studied parameters compared with control. The results clearly indicated that the different applied treatments increased the measured growth characteristics i.e. plant height, number of branches/plant, fresh and dry weights as well parallel increase of photosynthetic pigments. Also, constituents of N, P, K, total carbohydrates, percentage of essential oil and the G.L.C. of essential oil of plant age were existed in the two assigned seasons. In addition, the most effective combined treatment was that of seaweed at 6 ml/l + chitosan at 6 ml/l in this respect.

The present study was carried out at El-Baramoon Experimental Farm, Hort. Res. Institute, Agric. Res. Center, Ministry of Agric., during the two seasons of (2013 / 2014) and (2014 / 2015) to study the effect of sowing dates (Sept., Oct., Nov., Dec. and Jan.) and foliar application of some natural stimulants (Seaweeds extract, Moringa leaf extract, Salicylic acid and Chitosan) as well as their interaction on vegetative growth, fruit yield and essential oil of coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) plant. The results showed that sowing coriander seeds in October resulted in significant increase in growth characters, fruit yield and essential oil composition compared with other sowing dates in both seasons. Foliar applications of some natural stimulants (Chitosan, followed by Moringa leaf extract then Salicylic acid) significantly affected all studied parameters compared to the treatments of seaweed extract and the control plant. Moreover, the interaction treatments indicated that the highest means values for most growth characters, fruit yield and essential oil productivity were recorded from plants sown in October and sprayed with Chitosan. Delayed sowing in December and January and spraying with Moringa leaf extract gave good production at cold temperature. The G.L.C. of essential oil revealed total of 11 compounds. The main compound was linalool which constitutes 79.8 % in October sowing date with Chitosan foliar application and the sowing date in January with Moringa leaf extract application was 78.3 %.These results showed that, it is possible to produce coriander plants under different climate conditions by using some natural stimulants. Fruits yield and active constituents under early and normal sowing dates could be improved by spraying plants with chitosan foliar application, while under delayed sowing dates spraying plants with moringa leaf extract.

A field experiment was conducted during the two successive seasons of 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 to explore the effect of compost/NPK and biofertilization treatments on essential oil, photosynthetic pigments and herb NPK content of fennel plants. Obtained results revealed that the best three essential oil characteristics (essential oil %, essential oil yield per plant and per feddan), photosynthetic pigments (chlorophylls a, b and carotenoids) and herb content of N, P and K values were obtained due to the use of the full dose of mineral NPK, ¼ compost + ¾ NPK dose or ½ compost + ½ NPK dose with no significant differences being detected between such three fertilization treatments. Concerning biofertilization treatments, all of the prementioned essential oil determinations, photosynthetic pigments and herb NPK content traits were considerably augmented due to the dual treatment (Minia Azotein + phosphorein) followed by Minia Azotein, while phosphorein gave the least values. In regard to the interaction gave between the, two involved factors, the highest volatile oil determinations and chemical compositions values were given by fertilizing fennel plants with the full dose of mineral NPK, 25% compost + 75% NPK or 50% compost + 50% NPK in combination with dual biofertilizer treatments (Minia Azotein + phosphorein). It is recommended, to supply fennel plants with 50% compost + 50% NPK in combination with the dual biofertilization treatment (Minia Azotein + phosphorein), from the environmental and economical point of view, in order to maximize the fruit essential oil productivity.

A pot experiment was carried out in the Experimental Station of Horticulture and Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Fac. Agric., Mansoura Univ., during the two summer seasons of 2014 and 2015 to study the effect of different soil additives(rice straw compost (R.S.C.), town refuse compost (T.R.C.) and bio-fertilizer nitrobien) and different rates of mineral nitrogen fertilizer (ammonium sulfate (20.6% N) at 0, 50, 100 and 150 kg/fed) on vegetative growth, tuber yield , fixed oil percentage and compositionof tiger nut (Cyperus esculentus L.) plants. The results indicated that (R.S.C.or T.R.C.) fertilizer at the rate (15 m 3 /fed) plus nitrobien at the rate of(4 kg/fed) had a positive effect on vegetative growth of tiger nut plant; expressed as plant height (cm), number of tillers/pot, herb dry weight (g/pot) and harvesting characters including number of tubers/pot, tuber yield (g/pot), fixed oil percentage and oil yield (ml/pot), compared with other soil additive treatments.In addition,R.S.C. fertilizer was more effective on all studied characters in both seasons than either T.R.C. or nitrobien treatment. The highest level of nitrogen fertilizer (150 kg/fed) significantly enhanced all vegetative growth characters and some harvesting characters including tuber yield (g/pot) and fixed oil yield (ml/pot), but the maximum number of tubers per pot, fixed oil % were obtained from plants treated with nitrogen fertilizer at rate of 100 kg/fed compared with the other levels of nitrogen fertilizer. The combined treatment of 150 kg/fed nitrogen fertilizer with R.S.C. plus nitrobien was the most effective treatment to improve vegetative growth and harvest characters including tuber yield (g/pot), fixed oil yield (ml/pot), followed by the same combination using 100 kg/fed nitrogen fertilizer instead of 150 kg/fed nitrogen fertilizer with non-significant differences between the two treatments. The combined treatment of 100 kg/fed nitrogen fertilizer with R.S.C. plus nitrobien was more effective on number of tubers per pot, fixed oil % than any individual or combination treatments in both seasons. The gas liquid chromatography (G.L.C.) analysis identified twelve fatty acids in tiger nut fixed oil: six unsaturated fatty acids (oleic, linolinc, gondoic , palmitoleic , α-linolenic and heptadecenoic acids),as ranged from 78.50 to 79.21% of the oil and six saturated fatty acids (palmatic , stearic, myristic, arachidic, behenic and margaric acids),as ranged from 20.80 to 21.81%. The main components of the unsaturated fatty acids in tiger nut fixed oil were oleic acid (67.42-69.19 %), linolenic acid (9.42 -10.27%), while the main saturated fatty acids in the fixed oil were palmatic acid (12.29 -13.26 %) and stearic acid (6.60 -8.13%).