THE EFFECT OF SOME FERTILIZERS AND GROWTH REGULATORS ON BOTANICAL CHARACTERS AND YIELD OF OCIMUM BASILICUML. AND COTULA CINEREA DEL

Abstract

The aim of this investigation was to study the effect ofN, P, K and their combinations (N as urea 45.5% Nat 120 kg N/feddan on sweet basil and at 80 kg/N feddan on Cotula cinerea Del., P as superphosphate 15.5% P20s at 80, 100 and 120 kg P20s/ feddan on sweet basil and at 40,

60 and 80 kg P205/feddan on C. cinerea Del. and K as potassium sulphate

48% K 20 at 80 kg K20/feddan on sweet basil and at 60 kg K2 0/feddan on C. cinerea Del.) as well as IAA, BA and TIBA at different concentrations oq certain mprpl10logjca1, anatomical characters, herb . . . . f • . . . . • yield and its constituents for two medicinal plants sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) and Cotula cinerea Del.

The results could be summarized as follows:-

Plant height, number of branches/plant, number of leaves/plant, total leaf area/plant, number of inflorescences/plant as well as fresh and dry weights of leaves, stems and inflorescences/plant of both plants were greatly increased by the addition ofN1P2Kl and Nl P3K1 treatments as well as the low concentrations (I and 3 mg/1) ofiAA, BA and TIBA. The highest increase of stem section diameter, leaf blade

thickness, leaf petiole section diameter and root section diameter was obtained by NIP2Kl treatment as well as IAA and BA application. Chemical constituents represented in chlorophylls, carotenoids, total carbohydrates, N, P, K concentrations, essential oil yield/plant and oil constituents were increased due to the addition ofNPK fertilizers and the three growth regulators. The best results of this study for both plants were attained at N1P2K1 and N1P3K1 treatments as well as the low concentrations (I and 3 mg/1) ofiAA, BA and TIBA.