Influence of Compost and Biofertilizer on yield and essential oil of dill (Anethum graveolens L.)

Abstract

In order to study the influence of compost and biofertilizer on yield and essential oil of dill (<em>Anethum graveolens</em> L.), an experiment was conducted as factorial experiment in the base of randomized complete blocks design with eight treatments and three replications at research field of Agriculture Company of Ran in Firouzkuh of Iran in 2012. The factors were compost in four levels (0, 5, 10 and 15 ton/ha) and biofertilizer, <em>mixture of Azotobacter chroococcum</em>and<em>Azospirillum lipoferum </em>in two levels (non-inoculated and inoculated seeds). The present results have shown that compost had significant effects on evaluated traits except essential oil content, as the highest seed yield and essential oil yield after using 10 ton/ha compost and the maximum biological yield after applying 15 ton/ha compost were obtained. Biofertilizer also showed significant effects on mentioned traits except essential oil content. The highest biological yield, seed yield and essential oil yield were obtained by using the biofertilizer (inoculated seeds). Generally, the maximum seed yield and essential oil yield were obtained with the application of 10 ton/ha compost and biofertilizer.