Fertilizer type and humic acid improve the growth responses, nutrient uptake, and essential oil content on Coriandrum sativum L.

Abstract

In recent decades, the over-use of chemical fertilizers has imposed many environmental challenges worldwide. Nowadays, organic fertilizers such as vermicompost and livestock manure have gained a huge interest in sustainable agricultural systems. A 2-year field research was conducted as factorial based on a randomized complete block design to assay the fertilizer and humic acid (HA) efficiency on the growth responses and essential oil composition of Coriandrum sativum. The treatments were different fertilizer sources (livestock manure, vermicompost, and chemical fertilizers) and humic acid fertigation before and at the beginning of the flowering stage. The highest protein content was observed under vermicompost × HA application before flowering (0.118 μmol L−1 and 0.128 μmol L−1, respectively). Moreover, the co-application of organic fertilizers × HA at the beginning of flowering resulted in a significant increase in the photosynthetic pigments and N, P, K, Fe, Zn, and Mn content. According to the GC-FID and GC–MS analysis, linalool (55.91–63.19%), γ-terpinene (4.65–6.13%), α-pinene (2.64–5.74%), geranyl acetate (3.49–5.51%), 2-dodecanal (2.92–4.46%), menthol (1.33–3.90%), p-cymene (1.73–2.24%), and geraniol (1.25–2.15%) were the main essential oil constituents. The top linalool content was obtained by using chemical fertilizers and vermicompost × HA at the flowering onset stage. In general, the results revealed that chemical fertilizers could be replaced with vermicompost × HA and their co-application positively influenced the growth responses and the essential oil composition of coriander. Furthermore, the results obtained would be advisable to the extension section and the pioneer farmers to amend the large-scale production systems in favor of environmental health.

Essential Oil from Coriandrum sativum: A review on Its Phytochemistry and Biological Activity

“…Özyazici, 2021 [ 86 ] identified different fertilizer sources that also affected the EO content from 0.29 to 0.33% in the Erbaa variety of coriander. The same observation was given by Rasouli et al [ 87 ] where the different fertilizer type affected the EO content from 30–37% when compared to the control.…”

The Effect of Irrigation and Humic Acid on the Plant Yield and Quality of Sweet Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) with Mulching Application under Semi-Arid Ecological Conditions

“…[ 30 ] stated that the application of HA on the growth and yield parameters of field-grown basil plants was effective, and they observed the best growth and yield with the highest HAD. A field study conducted with coriander reported increased plant growth, plant height, biological yield, and grain yield with the application of HA [ 48 ]. Ref.…”

Trace Element Contents in Maize following the Application of Organic Materials to Reduce the Potential Adverse Effects of Nitrogen

“…Numerous studies have confirmed the beneficial effects of HA and FA on plant yielding [35], nutrient metabolism, and the synthesis of compounds involved in plant adaptation to stress factors [28,33,36]. What is more, humic substances promote seed germination and seedling development [37,38] and root growth [39,40] and increase the cell membrane permeability and stimulate the synthesis of nucleotides [41], chlorophyll [42], proteins, and monosaccharides [35]. Thanks to its ability to bind and precipitate harmful substances, soil humus also serves a protective function in the environment [43] and affects the behaviour and availability of trace elements in the soil [44].…”