Effects of Different Levels of Nitrogen and Phosphorous Fertilizers on Yield Quantity and Quality of Matricaria recutita L.

In order to investigate the effects of different levels of nitrogen and phosphorous fertilizers on flower yield, yield components and some quality components of German chamomile, a factorial experiment based on a randomized complete block design with four replications was carried out in the Medicinal Plant Research Farm of Shirvan College of Agriculture during growing season of 2007-2008. Nitrogen had three levels (0, 100, 200 kg/ha urea) and phosphorous also had three levels including 0, 30, 60 kg.ha-1 triple super phosphate. The results showed that application of nitrogen and phosphorous fertilizers imposed a significant effects (p < 0.01) on plant height, number of branches per plant, number of flower per plant and flower yield. Plants treated with 200 kgha-1 urea had the highest flower yield (1423 kg.ha). Among phosphorous levels, plant treated with 60 kgha-1 triple super phosphate produced the highest flower yield (1309 kgha-1). Fertilizers had no effect the percentage of chamazulene. However, plant treated with 200 kgha-1 urea and 60 kgha-1 triple super phosphate fertilizers produced the highest essential oil and chamazulene per square meter due to higher flower yield.