Phytochemical and Agronomical Response of Peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) to Bio-fertilizers and Urea Fertilizer Application

In order to sustainable agriculture, applications of bio-fertilizers are as a gradual alternative to chemical fertilizers or at least to minimize the levels of these chemical. To determine the effects of some bio-fertilizers and urea fertilizers on agronomical and pharmaceutical yield of Peppermint. This study was done in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with nine treatments and three replications. The treatments were control (no applying fertilizer), three different bio-fertilizers (4 & 8 kg.ha-1 for each one), and chemical urea fertilizer 75 & 100 kg.ha-1. The result showed that fertilizer treatments had significant effects on plant height, stem fresh and dry weight of per ha, dry weight of leaf per ha, menthone content (p<0.05), leaf number per stem, fresh and dry weight of leaf per stem, essential oil yield per ha, and menthol content (p<0.01). Generally the lowest qualitative and quantitative yield of peppermint was related to control treatment. However, the application of bio-fertilizers significantly increased the yield in respect of all studied parameters and the highest yield was observed in Nitroxin and urea treatment. So that, the amount of menthone and menthol of essential oil in bio-fertilizer of Nitroxin (8 kg.ha-1) had not significant statistical difference with urea fertilizer (75 kg.ha-1). The application of the bio-fertilizers especially Nitroxin increased qualitative and quantitative yield of peppermint. Then, the application of bio-fertilizers can be used in order to an alternative or reduction in application of chemical fertilizers in agro-ecosystem which is attitude toward the minimize of environmental pollution and sustainable agriculture.