Medicinal plants are very important in modern civilization in order to obtain natural active substances, known as secondary metabolites. The production of natural substances by plants is affected by cultivation conditions such as kind of fertilizer, so the main objective of this study was to determine the effects of organic and inorganic fertilizers on agro-morphological, quantity and quality essential oil of Agastache in semi-arid conditions of Tehran-Iran. The experiment was conducted at randomized complete block design with three replications. Treatments were Control, Nitrogen fertilizer (50 Kg ha-1), Vermicompost (30 t ha-1), Cow manure (20 t ha-1), Cow manure (25 t ha-1) and Combination of vermicompost and cow manure (30 t ha-1 + 20 t ha-1). The results showed phonological (Flowering time and Full bloom time) and morphological characteristics (Plant height, Fresh weight and Dry weight) of Agastache significantly influenced by type of fertilizer. Both of organic and inorganic fertilizers have resulted in to better growth of plants. Nitrogen fertilizer resulted in the highest fresh weight (9248.30 g plant1) but the highest dry weight was obtained at 25 t ha-1cow manure (1385.20 g plant1) followed by vermicompost treatment. Also obtained data revealed the essential oil content, herbage and essential oil yield of Agastache influenced by fertilizer type. The highest oil content was reported at control and the maximum herbage yield (1.63 t DW ha-1) and oil yield (26.71 kg ha-1) were obtained at vermicompost and 25 t ha-1cow manure treatments, respectively. GC and GC-MS analyses showed nine constituents in essential oil of Agastache and methyl chavicol was the main constituent. Different type of fertilizer had no significant effect on main oil constituents of Agastache but the minor compounds were influenced by treatments. Conclusively, our results indicate that organic manures improved growth and yield of Agastache.

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