The Influence of Chemical, Organic and Biological Fertilizers on Agrobiological and Antioxidant Properties of Syrian Cephalaria ( Cephalaria Syriaca L.)

Amir Rahimi, Sina Siavash Moghaddam, Mahdi Ghiyasi, Saeid Heydarzadeh, Kosar Ghazizadeh and Jelena Popović-Djordjević
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Amir Rahimi: Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Urmia University, Urmia 5756151818, Iran
Sina Siavash Moghaddam: Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Urmia University, Urmia 5756151818, Iran
Mahdi Ghiyasi: Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Urmia University, Urmia 5756151818, Iran
Saeid Heydarzadeh: Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Urmia University, Urmia 5756151818, Iran
Kosar Ghazizadeh: Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Urmia University, Urmia 5756151818, Iran
Jelena Popović-Djordjević: Department of Food Technology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia

Agriculture, 2019, vol. 9, issue 6, 1-13

Abstract: Since chemical fertilizers pollute soil, water and crops, conscientious agricultural producers seek alternatives to chemical fertilizers. Biological fertilizers are considered a reliable alternative for improving soil productivity and plant growth in sustainable agriculture. The response of some agrobiological and antioxidant properties of Syrian cephalaria ( Cephalaria syriaca L.) to different fertilizer sources was explored in an experiment which included: (i) mycorrhiza + manure; (ii) mycorrhiza + vermicompost; (iii) mycorrhiza + Azotobacter; (iv) mycorrhiza + chemical fertilizer; (v) mycorrhiza; and (vi) control. The results showed that the highest seed yield, biological yield, oil percentage yield, were observed in plants treated with mycorrhiza + vermicompost, whereas the highest 1000-seed weight was obtained from the application of mycorrhiza + manure. With respect to photosynthesizing pigments, the application of mycorrhiza + vermicompost increased chlorophyll a , chlorophyll b , total chlorophyll, carotenoid content as well as total phenols, total flavonoids and DPPH antioxidant activity as compared to control (unfertilized) plants. The mixed application of different fertilizer sources influenced the uptake of trace elements (Fe, Zn and Cu) optimally. In the light of the obtained results for the agrobiological and antioxidant properties of Syrian cephalaria, in most of the measured traits, there is no significant difference between manure, vermicompost and chemical fertilizers in combination with mycorrhiza. Hence the use of organic and biological inputs instead of chemical fertilizer for improving crop efficiency and quality with the aim of alleviating pollution and accomplishing sustainable agriculture is highly encouraging.

Keywords: manure; mycorrhiza; oil; total phenols; trace elements (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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