EFFECT OF COMPOST AND NPK WITH BIOFERTILIZERS ON GROWTH AND ESSENTIAL OIL PRODUCTION OF LEMONGRASS (CYMBOPOGON CITRATUS)

A field experiment was carried out at the Nursery of Fac. Agric., Minia Univ. during the two successive seasons of 2011/2012 and 2012/2013 to explore the effect of three compost levels (0, 4 and 8 ton/fed) and four mineral NPK/biofertilization treatments on vegetative growth and essential oil of lemongrass plants. Obtained results proved that vegetative growth characters (plant height, number of tillers/plant, fresh and dry weights of leaves/fed and essential oil percent and yield per fed were considerably augmented due to the use of both low and high compost levels, with the high one (8 ton/fed) being much more effective. Concerning mineral/biofertilization treatments, both 100% NPK and 75% NPK  + E.M. + yeast treatments out grew the other two treatments (75% NPK + E.M. and 75% NPK + yeast) in producing higher values of growth and essential oil parameters. The best overall results were obtained when lemongrass plants were supplied with compost at the level of 8 ton/fed and fertilized with 75% NPK combined with E.M. and yeast.