EFFECT OF FYM, MINIA AZOTEIN, SALICYLIC AND ASCORBIC ACIDS TREATMENTS ON GROWTH AND ESSENTIAL OIL PRODUCTION OF CORIANDER (CORIANDRUM SATIVUM, L.) PLANTS

A field experiment was carried out during 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 seasons at the Experimental Farm, Fac. of Agric., Minia Univ. to investigate the effect of FYM (0, 10, 15 and 20 ton/fed), Minia Azotein (M.A.) as biofertilizer containing N-fixing bacteria, salicylic acid (Sal.), ascorbic acid (Asc.), M.A. + Sal. and M.A. + Asc. on the vegetative growth and essential oil productivity  of coriander plants. The obtained data revealed that vegetative growth characters (plant height, number of branches/plant and herb dry weight/plant) and essential oil production (oil % as well as oil yield/plant and /fed) were significantly increased due to the application of all levels of FYM over those of control treatment. The maximum values were recorded at the high level of FYM (20 ton/fed). Vegetative growth characters and essential oil productivity parameters were significantly augmented as a result of using the different five treatments. The most effective treatments in this concern were Minia Azotein (M.A.) + salicylic acid (at 50 ppm) followed by Minia Azotein (M.A.) + ascorbic acid (at 50 ppm) without significant difference between such superior treatments. While, M.A. plus either salicylic acid or ascorbic acid gave the highest essential oil % and oil yield /plant and /fed.  It could be recommended to supply Coriandrum sativum plants with FYM at 20 ton/fed in combination with M.A. + salicylic acid or ascorbic acid each at 50 ppm to give the high productivity and the safety, not only for human but also for the environment in which we live.