Effects of bio-stimulators on seed yield and yield components in psyllium (Plantago psyllium L.)

The use of bio-stimulators is very important in getting better quality and plant performance sustainability. Therefore, a study was conducted on Plantago psyllium L. at research field of the Institute of Medicinal Plants, ACECR in 2011 on the basis of Complete Randomized Blocks Design with 10 treatments and three replications. The treatments were included bio-stimulators including Kadostim, Fosnutren, Humiforte and Aminolforte in two levels of 0.75 and 1.5 L.ha-1, chemical fertilizer (70 kg.ha-1) and control (without bio-stimulators and fertilizer). Results showed that the treatments had significant effect on number of axillary shoots, number of spikes per plant, number of seeds per plant, 1000- grain weight and seed yield (p<0.01), plant height, spike width, number of seeds per spike and shoot dry yield (p<0.05). However, the study treatments had no significant effect on spike length. The maximum plant height, number of axilliary shoots and shoot dry yield were obtained in Kadostim 1.5 L.ha-1. The maximum spike width and number of seeds per spike were achieved by Fosnutren 1.5 L.ha-1. The highest 1000-grain weight was recorded in treatments of Kadostim and Fosnutren 1.5 L.ha-1 and the maximum number of spikes per plant and seeds per spike were observed in treatment of chemical fertilizer. The maximum and minimum seed yield (445 and 149 kg.ha-1, respectively) was achieved by treatment of Fosnutren 0.75 L.ha-1 and Humiforte 0.75 L.ha-1, respectively. Our results clearly showed that the consumption of chemical fertilizers could be reduced by using bio-stimulators as an attempt towards sustainable agriculture and reducing environmental pollution.