The effect urea and biological fertilizers on quantitative and qualitative yield of isabgol (Plantago ovata Frosk.) medicinal plant

In order to evaluate the response of quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the isabgol (Plantago ovata Frosk.) medicinal plant to separate and combined application of urea and biofertilizer an experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design at the Research Farm of Shahrekord University in 2011. The experimental treatments consisted of control (no urea and biological fertilizers), U: 88 kg urea/ha, Az: Azotobacter, My + Az: mycorrhiza + Azotobacter, Az +50% U: Azotobacter + 44 kg urea /ha, My + U: mycorrhiza + 88 kg urea/ha, My + Az +50% U: mycorrhiza + Azotobacter + 44 kg urea/ha. The results indicated that the seed yield under separate application of Azotobacter was less than separate application of urea; however the mucilage yield was similar to urea. The combination of Azotobacter with urea and/or mycorrhiza did not change in seed and mucilage yield in compared to urea. The maximum of seed and mucilage yield (931 and 166 kg/ha, respectively) were recorded with using mycorrhiza + 88 kg urea/ha. However, amended fertilizer had no significant effect on swelling factor and the percentage of isabgol mucilage. In conclusion, the combined use of mycorrhiza inoculant and urea leads to increase (54%) in yield, which can be verified potential of mycorrhiza application for isabgol production under field conditions.