Impact of combined organic manures, chemical fertilizer and effective microorganisms on growth and yield of marjoram plants under drip and flood irrigation systems [electronic resource].

Includes references.

A field experiment was conducted at the Agricultural Experimental Farm, Faculty of Agricultural, AL-Azhar University, Assiut governorate during 2008/09 to study the effects of the application of combined organic manures (sheep and chicken), chemical fertilizer, and Effective Microorganisms (EM) as biofertilizer on the vegetative growth, yield and chemical composition of marjoram (Majorana hortensis, L.) plants grown under drip or flood irrigation. A ran-domized complete blocks design with four replications was used. Results indicated that the combination of organic manures, (EM) and nitrogen chemical fertilizer raised the growth characters in the three successive cuttings of marjoram plants, The combined application increased the dry weight of leaves (g/plant), dry leaves yield (kg/fed.), volatile oil yield (kg/fed.), nitrogen uptake (g/kg) and nitrogen use effi-ciency (NUE). Under flood irrigation, the T6 (50% CM +25% 8M +25% MF +EM) treatment gave the highest values with an average of 52.58 %, 52.58 % 320.64 %, 122.82 % and 9.60 % in the three cuttings, respectively; as compared to the control. Economic evaluation was carried out by calculating the benefit to cost ratio (B/C parameter), with the highest return 13545 L.E/fed. in T6. The profitability get it from revenue minimum total costs and the proportion of benefits to costs estimated at 2.68, and decreased in the order T 4 > T 7 > T 5 > T 3 > T 2 > T 1, respectively.

Summary in English.

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