Impact of Vermicompost and Chemical Fertilizer on Yield, Growth and Essential oil of Garlic (Allium sativum L.)

Abstract

In order to investigate the influence of vermicompost and chemical fertilizers on growth parameters and essential oil of garlic (Allium sativum), an experiment based on randomized complete blocks design with 7 treatments, 4 replications and 21 plots was carried out in Qaemshahr, Iran 2012.Treatments were included witness (control), 5, 10, 15, 20and25t/ha vermicompost and NPK fertilizers. Results showed that all agronomic traits were significantly affected by vermicompost and chemical fertilizers compared to the control. The maximum shoot wet weight and shoot dry weight recorded in chemical and vermicompost treatments, respectively.The maximum number ofbulbletsper plantand bulb dry weigh observed vermicompost treatment (20 t/ha). Among all treatment, vermicompost had highest effect on essential oil compared to chemical fertilizer. In general, 15 t/ha of vermicompost treatment compared to other treatments was appropriate for yield andproduction essential oil and reducing the cost of crop production.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ijls.v9i4.12675