The effect of Manure and plant Density on growth and quantitative characteristics of milk thistle (Silybum marianum L.)

In order to investigation the effects of different manure and plant density and the interactions between manures and density on the growth and some quantitative characteristics of Milk thistle (Silybum marianum L.) an experiment was conducted in a factorial layout based on a Completely Randomized Block Design in the experimental field, in College of Agriculture, of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. The treatments were included of two factors. The first factor was included three different manure: cow, ship and mixed of them in the same ratio manure (1.65 kg.m-2) and the second factor was three levels of plant densities (5, 7 and 10 plant.m-2) with three replications. At the end of fullbloom stage, morphological characteristics include of plant height, number of shoots, number and diameter of capituls, percentage of leaf dry matter, per Agriculture Ferdowscentage of healthy and free seeds, 1000 grains weight of the main and secondary capituls and chlorophyll content of leaf were determined. Results showed that there was a significant difference between different treatments in terms of number of capituls and shoots and plant height. Increasing of plant density, decreased plant height, number of shoots, number of capituls and 1000 grains weight. The results showed that the best kind of manure and plant density were ship manure and 40 × 40 cm (5 plants per m2) plant density, respectively.