Effect of NPK Rates and Inoculation with Mycorrhizal Fungi on Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) Plant in Sandy Soils

Abstract

This study was carried out during the winter seasons of 2014-15 and 2015-16 at The Experimental Farm ofEnvironmental Agricultural Sciences Faculty, Arish University, North Sinai Governorate, Egypt. The aim of this workwas to study the effect of different NPK rates (0.00, 22.4, 44.8 and 67.2 Kg/fed) and different Mycorrhizal fungiconcentrations (0.00, 28, 56 and 84 g/fed) and their interactions on growth and chemical content of dry leaves (nitrogen,phosphorus, potassium), and fresh leaves content of chlorophyll A and B as well as dry flower content of oil ofchamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) under sandy soil conditions. A Split plot design was used NPK rates wererandomly arranged in main plots and the mycorrhizal fungi concentrations were randomly distributed in the sub plots,Drip irrigation was used. Distance between lines was 50 cm and between plants in the same row was 30 cm (28000plant per fed). The obtained results showed that the highest values of vegetative growth (plant height, stem diameter,number of branches, fresh and dry weight of herb, root length, and root fresh and dry weight), flower traits (number offolwer/plant, flower fresh and dry weight, and flower diameter), chemical constituents (N, P, K), chlorophyll content (a& b), and essential oil percentage were achieved when chamomile plants treated with 67.2 kg NPK/fed or 84g/fedmycorrhizal fungi. The interaction results indicated that the highest values of all previous traits were recorded withplants fertilized with 67.2 kg NPK/fed and inoculated with mycorrhizal fungi at 84 g/fed.