EFFECT OF CHEMICAL, ORGANIC FERTILIZERS AND ACTIVE DRY YEAST ON SALVIA OFFICINALIS, L. PLANTS. I. FFECT ON GROWTH AND YIELD.

Abstract

The present study was conducted during the two successive seasons of 2003/2004 and 2004/2005 at the Farm of Ornamental Horticulture Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University and Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Department, Horticulture Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Dokki, Giza to investigate the effect of chemical fertilizers (NPK), organic manure (poultry manure) and spraying active dry yeast on sage (Salvia officinalis) plants .The results showed that, NPK fertilizer [300 kg ammonium sulphate (20.6 % N), 200 kg calcium superphosphate (15.5 % P2­O5) and 100 kg potassium sulphate (48 % K2O)/ fad./ season ] significantly increased plant height , number of branches/ plant , leaf area , leaves, stems and herb fresh and dry weights/ plant compared to the control, in most cases. In general, poultry manure (PM) fertilizer at 10 and 20 m3 / fad / season significantly increased number of branches/ plant , leaf area , fresh and dry weights of leaves, stems and herb / plant compared to the control. Also, plant height was significantly increased as a result of using PM at 20 m3 / fad. PM at 20 m3/ fad was more effective than 10 m3 / fad / season. Spraying active dry yeast alone at 5 g/ L significantly increased plant height, leaf area, fresh and dry weights of leaves and herb, and dry weight of stems in the first cut of both seasons. It also significantly increased fresh weight of stems in the first season in both cuts . Generally, interaction between PM fertilizer at 10 or 20 m3 / fad/ season and spraying plants with active dry yeast at 5 g / L significantly increased plant height , number of branches / plant , leaf area , leaves fresh and dry weights/ plant and herb fresh and dry weights / plant in both cuts of the two seasons, compared to the control. PM at 20 m3 / fad plus active dry yeast at 5 g / L was recommended.