Effect of foliar spray with algae extract, bio- nitrogenous fertilization and different levels of nitrogen sources on vegetative growth, green yield, quality, essential oil yield and its active substances content in celery plants (Apium graveolens)

Abstract

Two field experiments were conducted in newly reclaimed soil for two successive winter seasons during 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 at El-Nubaria, El-Beheira Governorate, Egypt, to study the effect of foliar spray with algae extract (without and with algae); nitrogen bio-fertilization treatments, i.e., without bio., Microbein and Nitrobein and different levels of organic and mineral nitrogen fertilizers, i.e. 100 % Mineral N fertilizer + 0 % Compost, 50 % Mineral N fertilizer + 50 % Compost and 0 % Mineral N fertilizer + 100 % Compost on growth, vegetative yield, quality characteristics, essential oil content and major components percentage of essential oil in celery plants. Data indicate that there are significant differences of foliar spray as algae extract, Nitrobein as a bio fertilizer and application of 50% Mineral N fertilizer + 50% Compost for all studied characters in the two seasons. Spraying celery plants with algae extract gave a significant increase in vegetative growth, i.e., plant length, main leaf number, side leaf numbers, head circulenes, fresh and dry weight of leaves, necks and total plant. Also, spraying celery plants with algae extract gave a highest value of vegetive leaf yield, i.e., leaves, necks and whole plant; essential oil content, i. e., % (V/W) and per plant (ml.) in leaves, necks and whole plants and essential oil yield (liter/ fed.) in leaves, necks and whole plants and N, P and K% in leaves of celery as well as major component’s percentages of essential oil content, i.e., D-Limonene (%), Trans-β- Ocimene (%) and 3-Butylisobenzo- furan 1(3H)-one (%) during two seasons. On the other hand, without spray by algae extract which recorded a highest value of Carvacrol (%), β-Caryophyllene, β- Selinene (%), Sedanenolide (%) and Trans-Sedanenolide (%). Inoculation by bio-fertilizers caused the highest significant values of the above-mentioned characteristics of vegetative growth; essential oil content, i. e. % (V/W) and per plant (ml.) and essential oil yield (liter/ fed.) in leaves, necks and whole plants of and N, P and K% in leaves celery as well as its active substances content of celery plants compared with control (without bio.). Microbein as a bio-fertilizer treatment was recorded the highest values of the above-mentioned characteristics compared with Nitrobein treatment and without biofertilizer. All treatment which received organic manure gave a significant increase in most of abovementioned characteristics. So, the highest values of vegetative growth characteristics; essential oil content and essential oil yield (liter/ fed.) in leaves, necks and whole plants and N, P and K% in leaves celery as well as its active substances content of celery were obtained by plants which received 50% mineral N fertilizer + 50% compost follow up treatment of 100 % compost compared with the rate of 100 % Mineral N fertilizer. The lowest values were obtained by those plants which did not receive organic manure (100 % Mineral N fertilizer). The rate of 100 % Compost led to a significant increase in the major component’s percentage such as D-Limonene (%) in essential oil of celery plants compared to other nitrogen sources rates. Average rate of 50% Mineral N fertilizer + 50% Compost was superior in active substances content such as Carvacrol (%) and 3-Butylisobenzofuran-1(3H)-one (%) compared to other treatment. High rate of organic fertilizer gave the highest values of the major components percentages of essential oil content in leaves of celery plants, i.e., Trans-β-Ocimene (%), β- Caryophyllene (%), β-Selinene (%), Sedanolide (%) and trans-Sedanolide (%) during two seasons Spraying algae extract with inoculation of Microbein as a bio-fertilizer and application of the rate of 50% mineral N fertilizer + 50% compost recorded the highest values of vegetative growth characteristics; total fresh leaf yield; bundles quality; oil yield and mineral content N%, P% and K% as well as major’s chemical composition of essential oils.