Effects of organic, biological and chemical fertilizers on quantitative traits of seedless barberry

In order to have a sustainable agricultural system, it is essential to use inputs that help improve the biology and reduce the contamination. Since centuries ago barberry has been used as a food additive, as well as a medicine to lower blood pressure, strengthen the heart, relieve stomach, urinate and hemorrhoids and is very beneficial to strengthen and eliminate liver obstruction (31). This plant is widely distributed in Iran and it can be seen on steep slopes, especially calcareous soils in Azerbaijan, Gilan, Mazandaran, Golestan, Tehran, Khorasan (Qaen, Sarbishe, Salm Abad, Dargaz) and Fars (44). The cities of Qaen and Birjand in South Khorasan Province account for more than 97% of the country's barberry crop area and produce 95% of the world's barberry (20). With regard to the importance of food and medicinal products of barberry shrub this experiment was conducted with the aim of applying chemical, organic and biological fertilizers on the quantitative characteristics of barberry.
This experiment was conducted as split plot randomized complete block design with three replications in commercial garden in Qaen during 2016. Main treatments comprised four application type of fertilizer (1-no fertilizer application, and application of 2-Chemical fertilizer, 3-organic fertilizer and 4-50 percent of chemical along with 50 percent of organic fertilizer). Sub treatments were no fertilizer, application of Phosphate Barvar-2, humic acid, and Phosphate Barvar-2 humic acid. The studied characteristics were measured at the end of the growing season (early November) when the fruits were in physiological maturity. For sampling from each shrub, 7 branches were selected randomly. The average number of berries per spike, number of spikes per branch and fresh weight of 100 berries as the values of these traits were reported for that shrub. The mean length of 7 leaves and berries were reported as the length of barberry leaf and berries. In addition, the yield of the berries and the weight of the branches were measured for all shrubs.
The total number of fertile and non-fertile branches was counted in each shrub and the ratio of non-fertile to fertile branches was obtained. Dry weight of 100 berries and dry yield of berries (economic yield) were measured by drying them.
Fertilizer treatments significantly influenced all traits, so that combined application of chemical and organic fertilizer along with fertigation of humic acid and Phosphate Barvar-2 produced the greatest length of berries and leaves, fresh and dry weight of 100-berries, fresh and dry yield of berry and fresh weight of fertile branch. Application of organic fertilizer along with fertigation of humic acid and Phosphate Barvar-2 produced the greatest berry numbers per panicle, panicle number per branch and fertile branches. The highest season branches and ratio of infertile/fertile branches was observed in plants fertilized with chemical fertilizer along with humic acid and Phosphate Barvar-2. Dry weight of berries (economic yield) increased in plant fertilized with combined application of chemical and organic fertilizer along with humic acid and Phosphate Barvar-2 by 10.48, 20.11 and 27.30 percent in comparison with the organic fertilizer humic acid Phosphate Barvar-2, chemical fertilizer humic acid Phosphate Barvar-2 and control, respectively.
These results suggested that the greatest berries and leaf length, fresh and dried weight of berries and impure fresh yield was obtained at combined application of chemical and organic fertilizer along with fertigation of humic acid and Phosphate Barvar-2. Accordingly, it can be concluded that the combined use of organic, chemical and biological fertilizers increased the yield and yield components of barberry more than their separate application.