Effect of organic and biofertilizers on growth, herb yield and volatile oil of marjoram plant grown in Ajloun region, Jordan

Abstract

This experiment was carried out during two successive seasons of 2007/2008 and 2008/2009 in Ajloun region, to study the effect of organic manure (farmyard manure and poultry manure at a rate of 75 m3/ha as fertilizer of each) and biofertilizers (Nitraboein and Halex-2 at a rate of 988 gm/ha of each as well) as their interactions on growth, yield of herb and volatile oil of Majorana hortensis L., using drip irrigation system. The results indicated that the application of a poultry manure as an organic fertilizer to marjoram plants recorded the maximum values of herb fresh and dry yield, N, P and K contents and its uptake by herb in the early cut, volatile oil percentage, oil yield/ plant and per hectare, while in the late cut, the highest values in this respect were obtained by farmyard manure application. Marjoram transplant treated with halex-2 biofertilizers gave the highest values of herb fresh and dry yield, N, P and K contents and its uptake by herb in the early cut, in addition to, volatile oil percentage, oil yield/ plant per hectare, while plants treated with nitrobein biofertilizers gave intermediate values at different cut in this respect. The combination of poultry manure and halex-2 proved to be the superior treatments, which reflected in the greatest influence upon all the studied characters, that is, fresh and dry herb yields, mineral contents, highest volatile oil percentage and oil yield/ plant of marjoram plant, followed by FYM combined with the same biofertilizers and may be recommended under similar conditions of this work. Key words: Biofertilizers, Jordan, halex-2, marjoram, nitrobein, organic, poultry manure, volatile oil.