Effect of Bio, Organic and Chemical Fertilization on Growth, Productivity and Oil Consituents of Caraway (Carum carvi, L.).

Abstract

A field trial was carried out during 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 seasons at the Experimental Farm of Faculty of Agriculture, Kafr El- Sheikh University to study the effect of bio, organic and chemical fertilization on growth, seed yield, essential oil and its main components as well as some chemical constituents (N, P and K) of Caraway plants. Compost was applied at the rate of 10 m3 /fed., during soil preparation. NPK, active dry yeast, seaweed extract, amino acids free and triamin plus were added as folair spray. The common agricultural practices i.e. watering, weed control, etc. were done whenever plants needed and the obtained results could be summarized as follows: Compost in combinations with active dry yeast or amino acids free or triamin plus significantly enhanced both Caraway plant growth and productivity of seeds or essential seed oil contents. GCM (gas chromatography) analyses for oil components shown the presence of ơ–guaiene, 2,6- dihydroxyacetophenone, hydrocinnamic acid, α – gurjunene, chamigrene and caryophyllene in the seeds volatile oil. All treatments didn’t succeed in improving the main components of the volatile oil (carvone) but the plants fertilized with seaweed extract treatment gave high means of most component of the volatile oil.