Effects of Fertilizer Types and Time to use nitrogen fertilizer on growth and Qualitative critera of Silybum marianum L.

Background and Objectives: Silybum marianum L. is a plant belonging to the Asteraceae family. An medicinal plant that is native to the Mediterranean, with a large distribution in warm and dry areas. In recent years, good progress has been made in the cultivation of medicinal plants and the development of the pharmaceutical industry. Application of chemical fertilizers results in environmental pollution and ecological damage. Nitrogen fertilizer is the most widely used nutrient required for plants Which can affect plant yield. Therefore, the proper time to use this fertilizer can increase the yield and reduce the environmental destructive effects. Due to the inappropriate use of chemical fertilizers and the environmental destructive effects of these fertilizers, the application of biological fertilizers and environmental protection is essential. Among bio-fertilizers, Phosphate Soluble Microorganisms, including mycorrhizal fungi, are of great importance. According to the above mentioned, the purpose of this experiment was to investigate the effect of chemical, organic fertilizers and Bio-fertilizer as well as to determine the best time of nitrogen fertilizer use on quantitative and qualitative traits of Silybum marianum L.

Materials and methods: Experiment was carried out during 2015 - 16 and 2016 - 17 in two season years. The experiment was carried out as factorial layout based on a randomized complete blocks in a factorial arrangement having 18 treatments in 3 replications. In this research, two factors were evaluated: Experimental treatments consisted of different types of fertilizers (organic, biological and chemical) and nitrogen fertilizer use time. First factor, types of fertilizers include 1.vermicompost (20 ton. ha-1), 2. Mycorrhizal fungi (3.5 g Soil with mycorrhiza for each plant), 3. Pseudomonas bacteria (2 g bacteria for 1 kg of seed), 4. Phosphorus fertilizer of triple super phosphate ( 80kg . ha-1), 5. Phosphorus fertilizer of triple super phosphate (100kg. ha-1) together with a control (without consuming any kind of fertilizer) and the second factor was considered three times of nitrogen fertilizer application (Stem growth, pre-flowering and before filling the grain). Phosphorus fertilizer, vermicompost, Pseudomonas bacteria and Mycorrhizal fungi were used at the time of cultivation. The plant height, Capitol number per plant, Diameter capitol main, Diameter sub capitol, Dry weight main capitol, Dry weight sub capitol, Number of seeds per main capitol, Number of seeds per sub capitol, 1000 seeds weight, Grain yield, Silybin yield were studied in this study. The amount of silybin in this plant was also measured by HPLC.

Results: Most of the studied characteristics in this experiment showed better response to mycorrhizal fungi and Pseudomonas bacteria than other treatments. The results showed that the application of mycorrhizal fungi during application of nitrogen fertilizer before flowering except diameter and dry weight of capitol in the other traits were positive compared to control treatment and other treatments. Mycorrhiza enhances the number of Capitols per plant and the number of seeds per Capitols, which are part of the Silybum marianum L. yield components, which ultimately increased the amount of Silybin in the mycorrhizal treatments and when using nitrogen before flowering and before filling the grain. In the treatment of mycorrhiza and Pseudomonas whit using nitrogen elongation stem growth was observed maximum plant length.In the studied traits, Pseudomonas was shown positive effect, but did not have a significant effect on silybin content compared to mycorrhiza.


Conclusion: When nitrogen fertilizer is used in mycorrhiza treatments before flowering has a positive effect on the yield components and ultimately the yield as well as the amount of active Compounds the silybin in Silybum marianum L.


Keywords: Silybin, Phosphorus, Silybum Marianum, , mycorrhizal fungi