Effect of drought stress, chemical and biological phosphorus fertilizers on morphological traits, flower and essential oil yield of chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.)

In order to evaluate the effect of drought stress, chemical and biological phosphorus fertilizers on morphological traits, flower and essential oil yield of chamomile, an experiment was conducted in Zabol University Research Field, during 2016. The experiment was done as split plot based on randomized complete block design with three replications. Main plots were drought stress including; irrigation after 90, 70 and 50 % of field capacity (FC) depletion and the sub plots were phosphorus fertilizers including; non fertilizer, 100 % chemical phosphorus, combined of 50 % of phosphate fertilizer + biofertilizers (Phosphate B-2), biological fertilizer (Phosphate B-2). The results showed that plant height, stem and head diameter were affected by drought stress and fertilizer. By increasing the stress intensity from 90 (control) to 50% of FC plant height, stem and head diameter was reduced and application of 50 % from chemical and biological fertilizers showed the most influence. Interaction between drought stress and fertilizer on number of main stem, number of flower per plant, dry weight of plant, flower and essential oil yield were significantly affected. The highest number of main stem, number of flower per plant, dry weight of plant, flower and essential oil yield was obtained from non-stress with chemical and biological phosphorus combination. Based on the results, in order to improve the morphological traits, flower and essential oil yield of chamomile the combined application of chemical and biological phosphorus fertilizers with conventional irrigation will be appropriate.