EFFECT OF IRRIGATION INTERVALS AND BIOFERTILIZATION ON YIELD, OIL PRODUCTION AND CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS OF CHAMOMILE(Matricaria chamomilla,L.)PLANTS.

A. S. M. EL-Leithy

Ornamental Horticulture Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Egypt.

ABSTRACT

The present study was conducted during the two successive seasons of 2002/2003 and 2003/2004 at the Farm of Ornamental Horticulture Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University to investigate the effect of irrigation intervals every 7, 11or 15 days and bio- fertilizers ( Nitrobien and Phosphorein) each at 0, 3 or 6 g / pot on chamomile plant. The results showed that prolonging irrigation interval to 11 or 15 days significantly decreased both fresh and dry weights of flowers in both seasons. The highest fresh and dry weights  of flowers were obtained due to irrigation every 7 days . Irrigation every 7 or 11 significantly increased oil percentage  in the first and second seasons ,respectively. Irrigation every 7 days gave the highest α pinene, sabinene, ρ-cymene, 1,8-cineole,  bisabolon oxide A, chamazulene  and dicycloether . Whereas irrigation every 11 days gave the highest percentage of bisabolol oxide A. Irrigation every 11days gave the highest N contents , while irrigation every 15 days gave the highest P and K contents. Irrigation every 7 days gave the highest total carbohydrates content.    

In general, Nitrobien and Phosphorein application at 3 or 6 g /pot significantly increased fresh and dry weights of flowers. Nitrobien at 3 or  6 g / pot in both seasons and Phosphorein at 3 or 6 g /pot in the second season  significantly decreased oil percentages. Nitrobien at 3 or 6 g /pot gave the highest bisabolol oxide A contents in chamomile oil. Whereas Phosphorein at 3 g /pot resulted in the highest ρ- cymene, 1,8- cineole and caryophyllene percentages. Phosphorein at the highest rate (6 g /plant) gave the highest  α- pinene, sabinene and chamazulene contents. Bio- fertilizers ( Nitrobien or Phosphorein ) each at    3 or 6 g / pot increased both N, P , K and  total carbohydrates contents in most cases compared with the control. Both Nitrobien and Phosphorein at 6 g /pot plus irrigation every 7 days gave the highest fresh and dry weights of flowers. Irrigation every 11 days and Phosphorein at 6 g /pot gave the highest oil %  in the first season and P % in the second one. Nitrobien  at 6 g /pot plus irrigation every 15 days gave the highest N%. Whereas Phosphorein at 3 or 6 g /pot and irrigation every 7 days gave the highest K and carbohydrates contents.

Keywords:Irrigation intervals, biofertilization, oil production, chemical constituents, chamomile plants.

INTRODUCTION

   Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla, L.) is an annual, strongly aromatic herb, up to 60 cm tall with a hairless, erect, branching stem. It has delicate feathery leaves and simple daisy- like white flowers. This herb has a long standing medicinal tradition, especially in Europe for all states of tension and the visceral symptoms that can arise there form, such as nervous dyspepsia and nervous bowel, tension headaches, and sleeplessness. It is used as analgestic, anti-allergenic, anti- inflammatory, antispasmodic, bactericidal, carminative, cicatrisant, cholagouge, digestive, emmmenagogue, febrifuge, fungicidal, nerve sedative, stimulant of leucocyte production, stomachic, vermifuge. It is used externally in cosmetics  ,soaps, detergents, high class perfumes and hair and bath products. It is used in skin care against boils, burns , cuts, dermatitis , earache, eczema, hair care, sensitive skin, teething pain, toothache, wounds (Lawless,1992). Massoud and Franz (1990) mentioned that different chemocultivars of chamomile are presented on the market, which differ in the composition of the essential oil .For example, bisabolol A- type presented in Egypt, Czech. Rep. and Hungary, bisabolol-type is presented in Spain and bisabolon oxide type is presented in Turkey and Bulgaria.                                                          

Irrigation intervals affecting growth and chemical constituents of many aromatic plants, Ahmed and El-Hassen (2001) on Catharanthus roseus; Hammoda (2001) on moghat plants; Singh and Sharma (2001) on Cymbopogon martinii; Hammam (2002) on Cassia acutifiolia; Mazrou et al. (2002) on roselle;   Mahmoud et al. (2002) on Grindelia camporum; Yassen et al. (2003) on Ocimum basilica,L;  Singh (2004) on rosemary; Mastro et al. (2004) on artichoke and chicory and Akbarinia et al. (2005) on Nigella sativa plants.

   The bio-fertilizers are much more likely to increase both yield and quality and producing plants that are safe flavor some, and chemicals free. Salman (2004) on Ocimum basilicum L.; Saraf and Tiwari (2004) on muskdana (Abelmoschus moschatus); Youssef et. al.(2004) on sage; Zayed et al. (2004) on Borago officinalis, L.; Migahed et al. (2004) on celery;Shalan (2005) on borage plants;  Heikal(2005) on thyme  and Sakr (2005) on senna plants.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

    The present study was conducted during the two successive seasons of 2002/2003 and 2003/2004 at the Farm of Ornamental Horticulture Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University to investigate the effect of irrigation intervals and bio- fertilizers on chamomile ( Matricaria chamomilla, L.) plant.

Seeds of chamomile were sown in nursery beds with a clay soil on 4^th October in the two seasons. After 45 days, the seedlings (8 – 10 cm in height) were transplanted in 30 cm clay pots ( one plant / pot) filled with sandy loam soil (Table A) on 19^th  November in both two seasons.

            After two weeks from transplanting, the plants were  irrigated   every 7, 11 or 15 days.

Table A.  Chemical and physical properties of the experimental soil.

   * - E.C : Electric conductivity m mhos/ cm.

        Bio- fertilizers (Nitrobien and Phosphorein) were inserted in the soil surface at the rates of 0, 3 or 6 g / pot. Data on fresh and dry weights of flower heads / plant were recorded. Capitulums were dried under natural conditions of shade until a constant dry weight. Oil percentages were determined as described by British Pharmacopoeia (1963).Gas Liquid Chromatography (GLC) analysis of the essential oil in the second season was performed using Unicam Pro- GC equipped with flame ionization detector (FID) under the conditions of : Column with a coating film of 3% OV-17 ( Methyl phenyl Silicone ) on chromosorb - WHP.(1.5 X 4.0 mm and 100-120 mesh), and injector temperature of 250^oC. Nitrogen flow rate at 30ml / min, hydrogen flow rate at 33ml / min and air flow rate at 330 ml/ min with an initial temperature of 70^oC –P.R.8^oC and final temperature of 200^oC, chart speed was 2 min./cm., Range 32 as described by  Bunzen et al. (1969).Total carbohydrates content was determined in the dried herb as described by Herbert et al. (1971). Nutrients were determined in the dried herb using the method described by Piper (1947). The nitrogen content was determined using the modified micro-Kjeldahl method as described by Pregl (1945); phosphorus content was estimated using the method described by King (1951). Potassium content was determined by using a Pye Unicam Model Sp Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer.

             The experimental layout was split plot design in factorial experiment. The main plot was irrigation intervals and the sub- plots were bio fertilizer treatments, including15 treatments. Each treatment was replicated 3 times and each replicate consisted of 6 plants. The statistical analysis was carried out using Least Significant Difference ( L.S.D) test at 0.05% according to Snedecor and Cochran (1982).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Fresh and dry weights of flower heads:

            Data presented in Table 1 showed that irrigation intervals affected significantly both fresh and dry weights of flowers in both seasons. Prolonging irrigation interval to 11 or 15 days significantly decreased both fresh and dry weights of flowers in both seasons. The highest fresh weight of flowers were obtained due to irrigation every 7 days (26.80 and 32.47 g / plant compared to irrigation every 11 days ( 16.89 and 13.89 g /plant ), whereas plants irrigated every 15 days gave the lowest fresh weight (11.70 and 9.02 g / plant) in first and second seasons, respectively. Similar results were obtained on flowers dry weight in both two seasons. These results are confirmed with, Rachad (1999) on Echinacea purpurea and Mahmoud et al. (2002) on Grindelia camporum  plants.

          Bio-fertilizers had a significant effect on both fresh and dry weights of flowers. In the first season, Phosphorein application at 6 g /pot significantly increased fresh and dry weights of flowers (23.88 and 5.76 g, respectively), compared with (15.43 and 3.73 g, respectively) for control plants. In the second season, Nitrobien or Phosphorein application at 6 g / pot significantly increased fresh weight of flowers. Whereas application of  both Nitrobien and Phosphorein at 3 or 6 g / pot significantly increased dry weight of flowers / plant. The most effective treatments were both Nitrobien and Phosphorein application at the highest rate( 6 g / pot) which gave the highest fresh and dry weights of flowers/ plant. Similar results were obtained by, Sakr (2005) on senna and Shalan (2005) on borage plants found that bio-fertilizer treatments increased fresh and dry weights of plant organs.

    Interaction between irrigation intervals and bio fertilizers significantly affectedboth fresh and dry weights in both seasons. Irrigation at short intervals (7 days) and Phosphorein at 6 g / pot gave the highest fresh and dry weights of flower heads in the first season, while Irrigation every 7 days and Nitrobien at 6 g / pot gave the highest fresh and dry weights of flower heads in the second season.

Oil percentage (%):

           Data in Table 2 showed that, irrigation intervals significantly affected oil percentages. In the first season, irrigation at short interval (7 days) significantly increased oil percentage (0.680%) compared with (0.600 and 0.435 %) for irrigation at 11 or 15 days, respectively. In the second season, irrigation at 11 days interval significantly increased oil percentage (0.720%) compared with (0.647 and 0.707 % for short and long irrigation intervals, respectively. Similar results were obtained by Hammam (1996), on anise; found that long irrigation intervals resulted in a significant decrease in volatile oil percentage.

Table 1.  Effect of irrigation and bio-fertilizers on fresh and dry weights of flowers (g) / plant of chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) plant at 2002/2003and 2003/2004 seasons.

N₁ = Nitrobien at 3 g / pot.                                       P₁ = Phosphorein at 3 g / pot.      

          N₂ = Nitrobien at 6 g  /pot                                        P₂ =Phosphorein at 6 g / pot

Bio-fertilizers had a significant effect on oil percentages in both seasons.  Nitrobien at the two rates (3 or 6 g / pot) significantly decreased oil percentages in both seasons. Whereas Phosphorein, at the two rates (3 or 6 g / pot) significantly decreased oil percentages in the second season, while it had no significant effect on oil percentages in the first one compared to control. On  the contrary, Youssef, et al. (2004) on celeryandHeikal (2005) on thyme plant. They concluded that bio-fertilization treatments increased essential oil percentages.

Table (2): Effect of irrigation intervals and bio-fertilizers on oil percentage  of  chamomile (dried flower heads) (Matricaria chamomilla L.) plant at 2002/2003and 2003/2004 seasons.                

N₁ = Nitrobien at 3 g / pot.                         P₁ = Phosphorein at 3 g / pot.            

          N₂ = Nitrobien at 6 g / pot                          P₂ = Phosphorein at 6 g / pot                                                                                

          Interaction between irrigation intervals and bio fertilizers significantly affected oil percentages. Plants irrigated every 7 days and treated with Nitrobien at 3 g / pot and control plants and irrigated every 11 days gave the highest values in both two seasons, respectively. Whereas plants treated with Nitrobien at 3 g / pot and irrigated every 15 days and plants treated with Phosphorein at 3 g / pot and irrigated every 11 days gave the lowest oil percentages in both seasons, respectively.

GLC analysis of the essential oil:

             Data presented in Table 3 and Chromatograms (1, 2, 3 and 4) showed that GLC analysis of chamomile oil obtained from different treatments revealed that α pinene, sabinene, ρ-cymene, 1,8-cineole, caryophyllene, bisabolon oxide A, chamazulene, bisabolol oxide A and dicycloether are the main components separated from chamomile oil. The major components are α pinene which ranged from 26.11 to 5.94 %, sabinene which ranged from 21.93 to 4.10 % and bisabolol oxide a which ranged from 55.81 to 2.62 %. Similar  results are obtained by Massoud and Franz (1990) mentioned that different chemocultivars of chamomile are presented on the market, which differ in the composition of the essential oil. For example, bisabolol A- type presented in Egypt, Czech. Rep. and Hungary, bisabolol-type is presented in Spain and bisabolon oxide type is presented in Turkey and Bulgaria. Lawless (1992) showed that chamazulene, farnesene, bisabolol oxide, dicycloether, among others are the main components of chamomile oil (Chamazulene is not present in the fresh flowers, but is only produced during the process of distillation).

     Irrigation every 7 days gave the highest α pinene, sabinene, p cymene, 1,8-cineole, bisabolon oxide A, chamazulene and dicycloether compared with the other

Table 3. GLC analysis of the essential oil of chamomile ( Matricaria chamomilla,L. ) plants in the second season 2003/2004.

N₁ = Nitrobien at 3 g / pot.                        P₁ = Phosphorein at 3 g / pot.           

N₂ = Nitrobien at 6 g / pot                         P₂ = Phosphorein at 6 g / pot      

irrigation intervals. Whereas irrigation every 11 days gave the highest  percentages of bisabolol oxide a. These results are in harmony with those obtained by Shoala (1992) showed that irrigation every 20 days gave the highest citral a and b contents in lemongrass oil. Hammam (1996) on anise, found that irrigation every 2 or 4 weeks gave higher anethol and α pinene than irrigation every 6 weeks.

       Bio-fertilizers ( Nitrobien and Phosphorein ) affecting the main components of the essential oil. Nitrobien at 3 or 6 g / pot gave the highest bisabolol oxide A