Effect of sowing date and seeding levels on quantitative and qualitative yield of chamomile (Matricaria recutita)

Abstract

In order to study the effect of sowing date and seeding levels on quantitative and qualitative yield of chamomile (Matricaria recutita) L., an experiment was conducted. The experimental design was split-plot in the basic of randomized complete blocked design with three replications. Main plots consisted of three sowing dates (6 Nov, 5 Mar, and 4 Apr) and sub-plots included three seeding levels (0.2, 0.4 and 0.8g/m2). On the basis of the results, highest plant (47.4cm), the most number of plants in plot (135.4 plants), the most yield of fresh and dry flower yield (749.1 and 175.1g/m2) was obtained from the plants were sown on 6 of Nov but the most percentage of essential oil and chamazulene (0.59 and 5.62 percent respectively) and essential oil yield (0.79g/m2) was obtained from the plants were sown on 5 of Mar. On the basis of the results of their interaction, highest plant (49.7cm), the most yield of fresh and dry flower yield (810 and 198.2g/m2) was obtained from the plots were sown on 6 of Nov with 0.8g/m2 but the most essential oil and chamazulene content (0.63 and 5,9 w/w percent respectively) and essential oil yield (0.97g/m2) was obtained from the plots were sown on 5 of Mar with 0.4g/m2. According to the results, the most suitable sowing date and seeding level in Mashhad condition is 5 of Mar with 0.4g/m2 seeds.