The effect of potassium nitrate and arbuscular mycorrhiza on the quantitative and growth characteristics of Liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.) in greenhouse condition

This study was conducted to evaluate the interaction effects of potassium nitrate and arbuscular mycorrhiza on the growth and quantitative characteristics of G. glabra in the greenhouse condition.

Methods & Materials:

 In order to evaluate the effects of KNO3 and Arbuscular mycorrhiza (Glomus mossea) on the growth and quantitative characters of G. glabra an experiment as factorial based on the completely randomized design with three replications was carried out. The mycorrhiza treatments included: noninoculated (Control), 25, 50 and 100 g per pot and potassium nitrate had three levels: 0 (control), 10, 20 mmol L-1. Some characters such as plant height stem diameter, leaf area, foliage and root fresh and dry weight, leaf relative water content, chlorophyll a and b and carotenoid content were assessed.

Based on the results of this study the interaction of potassium nitrate and mycorrhiza affected the investigated characters and treatment combination of 20 mM potassium nitrate with 100 g per pot mycorrhiza increased plant height (67%), stem diameter (48.5%), foliage fresh weight (48.7%) foliage dry weight (54.9%), root fresh (69.1%) and root dry weight (64%) in relation to control. Also leaf area (41%) leaf relative water content (6.25%) chlorophyll a (28%), b (38%) and carotenoid (41%) contents increased significantly in comparison with control.

Simultaneous application of potassium nitrate and mycorrhiza, significantly affected the all of evaluated characters and improved all of them.