Single and integrated effects of biological, organic and chemical fertilizers on quantitative and qualitative traits of milk thistle (Silybum marianum L.)

In order to study individual and integrated effects of biological، organic and chemical fertilizers on milk thistle (Silybum marianum L.) quantitative and qualitative traits، a field experiment was conducted at Research Station، Faculty of Agriculture، Ferdowsi University of Mashhad، Iran during growing season of 2010-2011. A complete randomized block design with twelve treatments and three replications was used. The treatments were: control، vermicompost (V)، poultry manure (H)، chemical fertilizer (CH)، mycorrhiza (M) (Glomus mosseae)، biosulfur (B) (Thiobacillus sp.)، M+V، M+CH، M+H، B+V، B+CH، B+H. The results indicated that the all treatments affected the number of inflorescences per plant، inflorescences diameter and grain yield significantly and other traits weren’t affected by treatments. However، mean comparisons proved promising results for reduction in application of chemical fertilizer and its replacement with biological and organic fertilizers. Application of biosulfur increased the number of seeds per capitula in comparison with control up to 73%. The maximum and the minimum amounts of yield were obtained in M and M+CH، respectively. Other factors affected the yield approximately in the same rate. There was a significant enhancement (26%) in seed oil percentage by using M+H compared to poultry manure. The highest silymarin related to the use of Mycorrhiza and the lowest was obtained in M+CH. The maximum silybin was observed in Mycorrhiza treatment. The application of simple and integrated fertilization systems of organic and biological fertilizers can be effective to achieve a balance in applying chemical fertilizers in order to improve soil fertility، increase soil organic matter and also approach sustainable agriculture in farming milk Thistle.