Effect of Some Fertilization and Micro-Nutrients Treatments on Growth and Chemical Constituents of Echinacea purpurea plant

Abstract

Two field experiments were carried out at special Farm at El Khatatba region Minofia Governorate , Egypt and in the Laboratory of Horticulture Department, Faculty of Agriculture at Moshtohor, Benha Univ., during 2014 and 2015 seasons to evaluate the effect of some fertilization treatments i.e. control (compost at 10 ton/fed.),100 % full chemical fertilizer dose, 75% chemical fertilizer (NPK) dose + compost at 10 ton/fed. + bio fertilizer (nitrobein + phosphorein) , 50% chemical fertilizer (NPK) dose + organic fertilizer (compost) + bio fertilizer (nitrobein + phosphorein) and 25% chemical fertilizer (NPK) dose + organic fertilizer (compost) + bio fertilizer(nitrobein + phosphorein) and some micro-nutrients i.e. Zn and B each at 100 ppm as well as their combinations on growth, total caffeic acid derivatives and total alkamides as well as chemical constituents of Echinacea purpurea plants. Results showed that different tested treatments of fertilization and micro-nutrients treatments as well as their combination led to significant increase of the studied growth parameters i.e. plant height, number of branches, fresh and dry weights of herb/plant, number of suckers/plant, number of flowering heads/plant, fresh and dry weights of flowering heads/plant as compared with control plants in both seasons. Additionally, the enhanced growth of Echinacea purpurea plants due to the different treatments was accompanied by pronounced increase in leaves N, P and K content of treated plants in both seasons. Furthermore, total caffeic acid derivatives and total alkamides were increased by all fertilization and micro-nutrients treatments as well as their combinations, especially the combined treatment between 75% chemical fertilizer dose + compost at 10 ton/fed. + bio fertilizer and Zn or B each at 100 ppm. Conclusively, from the obtained results, it is preferable to fertilize Echinacea purpurea plants with 75% chemical fertilizer (NPK) + 10 ton compost/fed. + bio fertilizer(nitrobein + phosphorein) in combination with some micro-nutrients (Zn or B each at 100 ppm) as foliar spray to enhance plant growth and chemical composition which led finally to a safe product of high quality suitable for exportation and safe on human health