Evaluate effectiveness of bio and mineral fertilization on the growth parameters and marketable cut flowers of Matthiola incana L.

Abstract

Abstract: Biofertilizer has been identified as an alternative to chemical fertilizer to increase soil fertility and crop production in sustainable farming. The objective of this greenhouse study was to evaluate the effects of chemical fertilizers (N and P) against two biofertilizers containing N-fixer bacteria (Azotobacter chroococcum) and P solubilizing bacteria (Bacillus megaterium) and ATP (adinosine tri-phosphate) on the growth parameters and quality of fatty acid fraction of Matthiola incana. The application treatments included control (no fertilizer), chemical fertilizer and two types of biofertilizer. The application of biofertilizer containing N-fixer bacteria and P solubilizer bacteria as well as mineral fertilizers significantly increased the growth parameters of Matthiola incana. The use of biofertilizer resulted in the highest biomass and seedling height. This greenhouse study also indicated that the biofertilizer application had similar effects when compared with chemical fertilizer treatments. Microbial inoculum not only increased the nutritional assimilation of plant (total N, P and K), but also improved the quality of oil especial linolenic acid (C18:3). The results revealed that the population of bacterial inoculation significantly increased in all the inoculated treatments, when compared to uninoculated control. The maximum population of bacterial inoculation harbored in 75 % N and Azospirillum treated plant, which was significantly more than all other treated plants. Key words: N-fixer bacteria, P solubilizing bacteria, ATP, Matthiola incana, Fatty acids, Mineral fertilization