The Effects of Amino Acid and Organic Fertilizers on Some Growth Characteristics and Yield of Dragonhead (Dracocephalum moldavica L.)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Plant Production and Genetics, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Maragheh, Maragheh, Iran

2 Department of Horticultural Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Maragheh, Maragheh, Iran

10.22126/atic.2025.11326.1174

Abstract

The present experiment evaluated the influence of L-phenylalanine and different organic fertilizer resources on growth, yield, and essential oil production in Dragonhead. The field experiments were conducted in a factorial based on a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replicates at the University of Maragheh, East Azarbaijan Province, Iran during 2018-2019. The experimental treatments were arranged as the application of fertilizer resources at four levels of the chemical, poultry manure, municipal waste compost, and vermicompost as the first factor and the foliar application of L-phenylalanine at four levels of 0, 50, 100, and 150 mM as the second factor. Results showed that the growth characteristics in Dragonhead plants were significantly improved under foliar application of higher doses of L-phenylalanine (50 and 100 mM), which was revealed by a higher dry matter yield. The highest dry matter yield and essential oil yield were observed for the plants treated with municipal waste compost and vermicompost compared to the plants treated with chemical fertilizer and poultry manure. The application of 100/150 mM L-phenylalanine along with vermicompost in the first year produced the highest dry matter yield (481/531 g.m-2). The highest percentage of essential oil was observed under 150 mM of phenylalanine + chemical fertilizer (0.58 %) and 50 mM of L-phenylalanine + vermicompost (0.55%) in the first year. As a result, fertilizing with organic manures and L-phenylalanine can increase the dry matter and essential oil production, and improve the yield of dragonhead.

Graphical Abstract

The Effects of Amino Acid and Organic Fertilizers on Some Growth Characteristics and Yield of Dragonhead (Dracocephalum moldavica L.)

Highlights

  • L-phenylalanine influenced growth characteristics and essential oil production in dragonhead.
  • Organic fertilizers positively impacted growth characteristics.
  • 100/150 mM L-phenylalanine combined with vermicompost or municipal waste compost increased dry matter yield and essential oil yield.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Agrotechniques in Industrial Crops

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 27 March 2025

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