Effect of different levels of cow manure and urea on quantitative and qualitative characteristics of isabgol (Plantago ovata Forssk.)

In order to investigate the response of quantitative and qualitative characteristics of isabgol (Plantago ovata Forssk.) to different levels of cow manure and nitrogen fertilizers، an experiment was conducted in a randomized complete blocks design with four replications at the research farm، Shahrekord University in 2011. Treatments consisted of: control (no fertilizer) and three levels of nitrogen fertilizer (30، 60 and 90 N/ha in the form of urea) and three levels of cow manure (14. 29، 28. 58 and 42. 78 Mg/ha). Results showed that there were no significant differences in quantitative and qualitative characteristics between cow manure and urea fertilizer applications. The highest grain yield and aboveground biomass (1618 and 9464 kg/ha، respectively) were observed in 90 kg N/ha from urea fertilizer، but it had no significant difference with that of the 42. 87 Mg/ha of cow manure. The application of 42. 87 Mg/ha of cow manure resulted in the greatest seed mucilage amount (%26. 75)، swelling factor (10. 38 ml) and mucilage yield (415 kg/ha)، but swelling factor and mucilage yield of this treatment had no significant difference with that of the 90 kg N/ha from urea fertilizer. In general، it is concluded that the use of cow manure in isabgol production، not only does not reduce grain and mucilage yield of isabgol but also it can produce high- mucilage seeds، resulting in reduced pollution caused by the use of chemical fertilizers.