ESSENTIAL OIL AND CHEMICAL CONESTITUENTS OF FENNEL PLANTS AS AFFECTED BY COMPOST/NPK AND BIOFERTILIZATION TREATMENTS

A field experiment was conducted during the two successive seasons of 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 to explore the effect of compost/NPK and biofertilization treatments on essential oil, photosynthetic pigments and herb NPK content of fennel plants. Obtained results revealed that the best three essential oil characteristics (essential oil %, essential oil yield per plant and per feddan), photosynthetic pigments (chlorophylls a, b and carotenoids) and herb content of N, P and K values were obtained due to the use of the full dose of mineral NPK, ¼ compost + ¾ NPK dose or ½ compost + ½ NPK dose with no significant differences being detected between such three fertilization treatments. Concerning biofertilization treatments, all of the prementioned essential oil determinations, photosynthetic pigments and herb NPK content traits were considerably augmented due to the dual treatment (Minia Azotein + phosphorein) followed by Minia Azotein, while phosphorein gave the least values. In regard to the interaction gave between the, two involved factors, the highest volatile oil determinations and chemical compositions values were given by fertilizing fennel plants with the full dose of mineral NPK, 25% compost + 75% NPK or 50% compost + 50% NPK in combination with dual biofertilizer treatments (Minia Azotein + phosphorein). It is recommended, to supply fennel plants with 50% compost + 50% NPK in combination with the dual biofertilization treatment (Minia Azotein + phosphorein), from the environmental and economical point of view, in order to maximize the fruit essential oil productivity

EFFECT OF FOLIAR SPRAYING WITH SEAWEEDS EXTRACT, CHITOSAN AND POTASSIUM SILICATE ON ROSMARINUS OFFICINALIS L. PLANTS IN SANDY SOIL

The present study was carried out at the Experimental Farm, Horticulture Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Suez Canal University during two seasons of 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 to study the effect of foliar application of seaweeds extract at 2, 4 and 6 ml/l, chitosan at 2, 4 and 6 ml/l and potassium silicate at 6, 9 and 12 ml/l as well as the interaction between seaweeds extract and chitosan on growth, biochemical, and essential oil characteristics of rosemary plants grown in a sandy soil. These compounds were applied as foliar spray three times after 15 days from planting. The results showed that foliar applications of seaweeds extract at 6 ml/l, chitosan at 6 ml/l and potassium silicate at 12 ml/l significantly affected all studied parameters compared with control. The results clearly indicated that the different applied treatments increased the measured growth characteristics i.e. plant height, number of branches/plant, fresh and dry weights as well parallel increase of photosynthetic pigments. Also, constituents of N, P, K, total carbohydrates, percentage of essential oil and the G.L.C. of essential oil of plant age were existed in the two assigned seasons. In addition, the most effective combined treatment was that of seaweed at 6 ml/l + chitosan at 6 ml/l in this respect