Effect of Biofertilizer and Chemical Fertilizer Application on Water use Efficiency and Physiological Growth Indices of Henna as Medicinal Plant under Water Deficit Condition

The effect of biofertilizer and chemical fertilizer on water use efficiency and physiological growth indices of henna as medicinal plant was studied at three water regimes in 2014-2015 grows. The research was carried out in an greenhouse experiment using a factorial based randomized complete bloch design with three replications. The factors were fertilizers ( without any fertilizer (𝐹1), humic acid(𝐹2), application of mycorrhizae and vermicompost (𝐹3), vermicompost (𝐹4) and chemical fertilizer (𝐹5) and water deficit condition ( 100% W.R, 80% W.R and 60% W.R). Results showed that the application of arbuscular mycorrhizae, humic acid and normal condition (no water deficit), increased Plant height, Stem diameter, Leaf dry weight, Leaf fresh weight, No.khur, Plant dry weight and No.sub stem.The above mentioned characteristics were decreased under water deficit condition, non application of mycorrhizae and non application of humic acid. Application of mycorrhizae and humic acid significantly increased water use efficiency. The intraction effects of water deficit and mycorrhizae, was statisticaly significant. The highest water use efficiency (89.5𝑔⁄𝑚3 ) ocuured under water deficit condition (60%W.R) and application mycorrhizae and vermicompost. The lowest amount of water use efficiency (37.42𝑔⁄𝑚3 ) observed without any fertilizer under normal condition ( no water deficit).