Effects of biofertilizer and plant density on yield and essential oil of Coriandrum sativum L.

This research was aimed to study the effects of biofertilizer and plant density on yield and essential oil of coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.). The traits including 1000-seed weight, biological yield, seed yield, essential oil content, and essential oil yield were measured in a factorial experiment based on a randomized complete block design with twelve treatments and three replications. The study was conducted at the research field of Agriculture Company of Ran, Firouzkuh, Iran in 2011. The factors were nitroxin biofertilizer at four levels (non-inoculated, inoculated seeds, spraying on the plant at stem elongation stage and inoculated seeds늚�⧠ on the plant at stem elongation stage) and plant density at three levels (12.5, 16.7 and 25 plants m-2). Results showed that the highest 1000-seed weight, biological yield, seed yield, essential oil content, and essential oil yield were obtained from nitroxin inoculation with seeds together spraying on the plant at stem elongation stage. Plant density also showed significant effects on the mentioned traits, as the highest biological yield, seed yield and essential oil yield were obtained in a density of 25 plants m-2 and the maximum essential oil content was recorded in a density of 16.7 plants m-2. According to the results of this study, two- time consumption of nitroxin biofertilizer and a density of 25 plants m-2 were identified as the most suitable treatment.