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Effects of biofertilizer and plant density on essntial oil content and yield traits of
ajowan (carum copticum)

Article in Middle East Journal of Scientific Research · January 2013

DOI: 10.5829/idosi.mejsr.2013.14.11.2364

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Middle-East Journal of Scientific Research 14 (11): 1508-1512, 2013
ISSN 1990-9233
© IDOSI Publications, 2013
DOI: 10.5829/idosi.mejsr.2013.14.11.2364

Effects of Biofertilizer and Plant Density on Essntial

Oil Content and Yield Traits of Ajowan (Carum copticum)
1
Ardalan Ghilavizadeh, 2Mohammad Taghi Darzi
and 2Mohammadreza Haj Seyed Hadi

Roudehen Branch, Islamic Azad University, Roudehen, Iran

1

2
Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Agronomy,
Roudehen Branch, Islamic Azad University, Roudehen, Iran

Abstract: In order to study the effect of biofertilizer and plant density on essential oil content and yield traits
of ajowan (Carum copticum), an experiment was conducted as factorial experiment in the base of randomized
complete blocks design with twelve treatments and three replications at research field of Agriculture Company
of Ran in Firouzkuh of iran in 2011. The factors were biofertilizer (nitrogen fixing bacteria), mixture of
Azotobacter chroococcum and Azospirillum lipoferum in four levels (non-inoculated, inoculated seeds, spray
on the plant base at stem elongation stage and inoculated seeds + spray on the plant base at stem elongation
stage) and plant density in three levels (12.5, 16.6 and 25 plants m 2). Results showed that biofertilizer had
significant effects on studied traits. The highest, biological yield, seed yield, essential oil content and essential
oil yield were obtained by using the biofertilizer twice (inoculated seeds + spray on the plant base at stem
elongation stage). plant density, also showed significant effects on mentioned traits except essential oil
content. The maximum biological yield, seed yield and essential oil yield were obtained with 25 plants m 2.

Key words: Ajowan Azotobacter and Azospirillum Plant density Essential oil

INTRODUCTION By using correct nutritional sources through biofertilizers,

growth and yield of medicinal plants can be maximized.
Ajowan (Carum copticum) belonging to the Also, proper agronomic management include suitable
Apiaceae family is a grassy, annual plant with a white plant density has a high influence on growth and yield of
flower and small, brownish seeds which commonly grows medicinal plants.
in Iran, India, Egypt and Europe. The seeds have been Several studies have reported that nitrogen fixing
used for their flavour and spice in food industry. Also, the bacteria such as Azotobacter chroococcum and
ajowan seeds have essential oil as an active substance, Azospirillum lipoferum could cause increased yield and
which is used in pharmaceutical industry as a diuretic, essential oil in a few medicinal plants such as coriander
antivomiting, analgesic, antiasthma, antispasmodic and [8], fennel [6, 9, 10], davana [11, 12], turmeric [13], hyssep
a carminative [1-4]. Applying of biofertilizers such as [14], black cumin [15] and dill [16].
nitrogen fixing bacteria has led to a decrease in the use of Some other studies have reported that suitable plant
chemical fertilizers and has provided high quality density can increase the essential oil and yield of some
products free of harmful agrochemicals for human safety medicinal plants such as dill [17], coriander [18, 19], thyme
[5, 6]. Nitrogen fixing bacteria such as; Azotobacter [20], fennel [21], sesame [22], davana [23], peppermint [24]
chroococcum and Azospirillum lipoferum, were found to and anise [25, 26].
have not only the ability to fix nitrogen but also the Therefore, the main objective of the present field
ability to release phytohormones similar to gibberellic acid experiment was to investigate the effects of biofertilizer
and indole acetic acid, which could stimulate plant and plant density on essntial oil content and yield traits
growth, absorption of nutrients and photosynthesis [6, 7]. of ajowan (Carum copticum).

Corresponding Author: Mohammad Taghi Darzi, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Agronomy,

Roudehen Branch, Islamic Azad University, Roudehen, Iran.

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Table 1: Some Traits of Physical and Chemical of soil in experiment site

Cu (mg/kg) Fe (mg/kg) K (mg/kg) P (mg/kg) N (%) O.C (%) EC (ds/m) pH Texture
0.42 3.18 400 30 0.14 0.65 1.02 7.48 Clay-Loamy

MATERIALS AND METHODS Essential oil Extraction: In order to determine the

essential oil content (%), a sample of 100 g of ajowan
Field Experiment: A factorial experiment, arranged in a seeds from the each treatment were crushed in electric
randomized complete blocks designed with three grinder and were mixed with 500 ml distilled water and
replications, was conducted in the Experimental field then were subjected to hydro-distillation for 3 h using a
of the Agriculture Company of Ran, Firouzkuh, Iran Clevenger-type apparatus. The essential oil content was
during the growing season of 2011. The geographical measured after dehydrating of water by anhydrous
location of the experimental station was 35°45´ N and sodium Sulfate [30, 31]. Essential oil yield also was
52°44´ E with the altitude of 1930 m. The treatments calculated by using seed yield and essential oil content.
consisted of biofertilizer, different inoculation conditions
of mixture of Azotobacter chroococcum and Azospirillum Statistical Analysis: All the data were subjected to
lipoferum bacteria (non-inoculated, inoculated seeds, statistical analysis (one-way ANOVA) using SAS
spray on the plant base at stem elongation stage and software [32]. Differences between the treatments were
inoculated seeds + spray on the plant base at stem performed by Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT) at
elongation stage) and different levels of plant density 5% confidence interval. Transformations were applied to
(12.5, 16.6 and 25 plants m 2). Inoculation was carried out the data to assure that the residuals had normal
by dipping the ajowan seeds in the cells suspension of distribution [33].
108 CFU/ml for 15 min. Several Soil samples (0–30 cm
depth) were taken for the nutrient and trace element RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
analysis prior to land preparation. Chemical and
physical properties of the experimental soil is Biological Yield: The results presented in Table 2 have
presented in Table1. Nitrogen (50 kg/ha) and demonstrated that biological yield was influenced by the
phosphorus (20 kg/ha) were applied to the plots, based on application of biofertilizer, significantly. Among various
the soil analysis, before cultivation. treatments, treatment of inoculated seeds together
Each experimental plot was 3 m long and 2 m wide spraying on the plant base (10806.9 kg/ha) have indicated
with the spacing of 40 cm between the rows. There was a maximum increase in biological yield. According to the
space of one meter between the plots and 2 meters present analysis, Positive effect of the biofertilizer twice
between replications. Ajowan seeds were directly on the biological yield was due to increased nitrogen
sown by hand. There was no incidence of pest or disease uptake and growth improvement [6]. The result of present
on coriander during the experiment. Weeding was work are in agreement with the reports of Swaminathan
done manually and the plots were irrigated weekly. et al. (2008) and Kumar et al. (2009) on Artemisia pallens
All necessary cultural practices and plant protection [11, 12] and Kalyanasundaram et al. (2008) on Acorus
measures were followed uniformly for all the plots during calamus [34].
the entire period of experimentation. Plant density had also a significant effect on
Fifteen plants were randomly selected from each plot biological yield (Figure 1), as higher biological yield was
and the observations were recorded. In this study, recorded in treatment of 25 plants m 2 (12384.4 kg/ha).
quantitative and qualitative traits of ajowan consisted of The results clearly demonstrate the effectiveness of high
biological yield, seed yield, essential oil content and plant density (25 plant m 2) in greater biological yield, that
essential oil yield were evaluated. For evaluating the is in accordance with the observations Shareh and
biological yield, plants were put in the oven at 80°C for 48 Rashed Mohassel. (2003) and Rasam et al. (2007) [25, 26].
h and dry weight was calculated using a digital balance
(Sartorius B310S; ±0.01 g) [27, 28]. In order to determine Seed yield: The results presented in Table 2 have revealed
seed yield, the plots were manually harvested following that different levels of biofertilizer (nitrogen fixing
the air-drying of umbels at 20-24°C and then the seeds bacteria) had significant effects on the seed yield.
were removed from plants by hand [29]. The maximum seed yield (1376 kg/ha) was obtained in

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 Middle-East J. Sci. Res., 14 (11): 1508-1512, 2013

Table 2: Mean comparison of the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of ajowan at various levels of biofertilizer
Treatments Biological yield (kg/ha) Seed yield (kg/ha) Essential oil content (%) Essential oil yield (kg/ha)
Biofertilizer (nitrogen fixing bacteria)
b1 9400 b 896.5 c 1.98 b 17.85 c
b2 9760.4 b 1084.4 b 2.33 ab 25.18 b
b3 9804.9 b 1204.5 b 2.54 a 30.96 b
b4 10806.9 a 1376.0 a 2.78 a 38.58 a
Means, in each column for each factor followed by at least on letter in common, are not significantly different at 5% probability level using Duncans’ Multiple
Range Test.
b1, b2, b3 and b4 represent non-inoculated, inoculated seeds, spraying on the plant base at stem elongation stage and inoculated seeds + spraying on the plant
base at stem elongation stage, respectively.

et al. (2004) and Mahfouz and Sharaf Eldin (2007) on

Foeniculum vulgare [6, 9] and Valadabadi and Farahani
(2011) on Nigella sativa [15].
Significant difference in seed yield was observed in
various levels of plant density (Figure 2). The highest
seed yield (1351.6 kg/ha) was obtained in 25 plants m 2.
The comparison of plant density showed that maximum
density (25 plant m 2) produced the highest grain yield.
Akbarinia et al. (2005) reported that 30 plants m-2 in
spring grown obtained the most of grain yield in coriander
Fig. 1: Mean comparison for biological yield in different (Coriandrum sativum) [19]. Present result is in agreement
levels of plant density with the investigation of Gosh and Patra (1994) on
Sesamum indicum [22], Darzi et al. (2001) on Foeniculum
vulgare [21], Mcvicar et al. (2004) on Coriandrum
sativum [18], Gowda et al. (2006) on Trigonella foenum
gracum [35] and Rasam et al. (2007) on Pimpinella
anisum [26].

Essential oil content: The results have indicated that

essential oil content was affected by the application of
Fig. 2: Mean comparison for seed yield in different levels biofertilizer (Table 2). Significant increase in essential oil
of plant density content was observed in levels of biofertilizer application.
The highest essential oil content was obtained in
treatment of inoculated seeds together spraying on
the plant base at stem elongation stage (2.78%).
Nitrogen fixing bacteria have increased essential oil
content by enhancing the nitrogen absorption [27].
The present result were derived from the improvement of
nitrogen fixing bacteria’ activities in soil at the third and
fourth treatments levels (spraying on plant base and
Fig. 3: Mean comparison for essential oil content in inoculated seed + spraying on plant base at stem
different levels of plant density elangation stage), which are in agreement with the
previous studies carried out on the fennel and turmeric
the fourth treatment level of biofertilizer (inoculated seeds [6, 10, 13, 16].
+ spraying). Increased seed yield in fourth treatment of Plant density was not showed significant effect on
biofertilizer can be owing to the improvement of growth essential oil content (Figure 3).
and dry matter and eventually yield components.
These results are in agreement with the investigation Essential Oil Yield: The results presented in Table 2
of Kumar et al. (2002) on Coriandrum sativum [8], have demonstrated that essential oil yield was
Migahed et al. (2004) on Apium graveolens [27], Abdou influenced by the application of biofertilizer, significantly.

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 Middle-East J. Sci. Res., 14 (11): 1508-1512, 2013

4. Zomorodian, K., M.R. Moein, M.J. Rahimi, K. Pakshir,

Y. Ghasemi, S. Abedi and S. Sharbatfar, 2011.
Possible Application and Chemical Compositions of
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