Morphological, Agronomical and Phytochemical Changes in Borage (Borago officinalis L.) under Biological and Chemical Fertilizers Application

• Main Authors: H Naghdi Badi (Author), Z Zeinali (Author), H Omidi (Author), Sh Rezazadeh (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Institue of Medicinal Plants, ACECR, 2012-05-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 2717-204X; 2717-2058
• Keywords: borago officinalis; qualitative and quantitative characters; bio-fertilizer; chemical fertilizer; Therapeutics. Pharmacology; RM1-950; Toxicology. Poisons; RA1190-1270
• Source: Journal of Medicinal Plants, Vol 11, Iss 42, Pp 145-156 (2012)

Background : Borage is a valuable medicinal plant and its production to meet the needs of the pharmaceutical industry has a high value. Thus, the study of bio-fertilizers effect on its qualitative and quantitative yield seems to be necessary. Objective : To determine the effects of nitrogen and phosphorus biofertilizers on morphological, agronomical and phytochemical characters of borage and feasibility of replacing chemical fertilizers with biological fertilizers. Methods : This experiment was done in the Research farm of ACECR, Institute of Medicinal Plants along 2009 -2010 on the base of factorial experiment in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The treatments combination was three levels of biofertilizers (Control or no applying fertilizer, Nitroxin and Bio- Phosphor and three levels of chemical fertilizers (0, 50 and 100 percent of the nutritional needs of the farm). Results: The biological and chemical fertilizers as well as their interactions had significant effects on flower number, grain yield and content of total phenol, oil and γ- linolenic acid. The chemical and biological fertilizers significantly increased the morphological and agronomical characters. Although the oil and γ-linolenic acid content significantly decreased with application of chemical fertilizer, the application of bio-fertilizers significantly increased the γ-linolenic acid content. Conclusion : Although the qualitative yield decreased with consumption of chemical fertilizers, the borage performance in respect of all studied traits increased with application of bio-fertilizers. Therefore, the biofertilizers can be an alternative to replacing chemical fertilizers for increasing borage production which is in order to minimize of environmental pollution and sustainable agriculture.