A. Role of Zeolite and Magnetite Combined with Biofertilizers Alleviating Water Deficiency on Oenothera Biennis plant (Morphology and oil yield)

Abstract

The concept of safety production of medicinal and aromatic plants under water deficiency present experimental research was conducted in pots experimental farmyard at Ornamental Horticulture Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt during two successive seasons 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 to compare the effects of biofertilizers (Azotobacter chroococcum and
Bacillus megaterium), soil additives (zeolite & magnetite), mixture of them, and chemical NPK fertilizer (control) on growth parameters, floral characteristics and oil yield of Oenothera biennis L. (evening primrose) plants under water deficiency. the outcome data revealed that mixture of biofertilizers and soil additives (zeolite & magnetite) led to significant increment in morphological growth (plant height, number of branches, number of leaves, leaves area, leaves fresh weight, leaves dry weight), floral characteristics (number of flower, number of capsules, seed yield, as well as oil yield) in comparison with the recommended dose of chemical fertilizer NPK (control) under the same conditions. These results disclose that mixture biofertilizers and natural resources of soil additives could reduce or replace the addition of chemical fertilizers, accordingly improve the quality and quantity of medicinal and aromatic plants, besides minimizing economic costs and pollution of the agricultural environment.