Use of novel cultivation methods has been of great interest in recent years, aiming at elevation of their vegetative yield and oil content. In Iranian folk medicine, Valeriana officinalis is an herb applied as a tranquilizer, stimulant and antidepressant. This investigation was arranged to study the effects of two light intensities (14000 and 30000 lux) and four fertilizing solution with different ammonium: nitrate ratios (0.5, 0.6, 0.7 and 0.8) comparing to controls (no fertilization) in factorial layout based on completely randomized design with three replicates and three samples in each replicate. The evaluated traits were plant height, crown diameter, leaf count and area, leaf area index (LAI) and specific leaf area (SLA), chlorophyll content (SPAD), shoot fresh and dry weights, root fresh and dry weights, root length, total phenol and antioxidant activity of hydro-alcoholic extracts of root, as well as root oil content. The obtained results indicated superiority of ammonium: nitrate ratio of 0.7 and light intensity of 30 klux.

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