Role of Organic Fertilizer in Medicinal and Aromatic Crops
Author: Sodavadiya Harinanandan Babubhai

Introduction

Organic agriculture has grown the best possible relationship between the earth and human being. Soil organic matter content is the direct measure of soil fertility. Organic farming system emphasise on the use of organic matters for maintaining soil health, growth and multiplication of beneficial microbes and minimizing health hazards associated with food. Medicinal and Aromatic crops have great demand in modern civilization to extract various natural products for human welfare. It's gained global significance and are sought after by pharmaceutical companies and flavour and fragrance industries world over. On the physical and chemical characteristics of the effective of medicinal plants. The main objective of this review is to provide information to help in future research and development in organic medicinal and aromatic plants cultivation.

Effect of Organic Fertilizer on Morphological Characters

In Sweet Marjoram (Majoranahortensis) when soil treated with 15 and 30% aqueous extracts of compost, essential oil percentage and yield per plant and herbage biomass have been increased. While the chemical composition of marjoram essential oil did not change due to the compost treatment or level (Fatma et al, 2008). Similar results were obtained from marjoram and Cymbopogonwinterianus plants. Increased plant height Psyllium (Plantago ovata L.). Use organic fertilizers and cattle caused the increase in green performance of cumin seed biological performance of, the number of umbrellas in the crucible, the number of seed in umbrella height and bushes.

Effect of Organic Fertilizers on Medicinal Plants Yield and Secondary Metabolite Synthesis

The application of vermicompost favorably affects soil PH, microbial population and soil enzyme activities. Which all of them can affect biosynthesis of compounds. Phenolic compounds are a large group of plant secondary metabolites. Increasing in the levels of phenols Chand et al, (2012) reported that growth parameters and herb yield of mint marginally enhanced with the application of 7-5 t/ha vermicompost. The medicinal plant vinca (Caharanthus roseus) plants inoculated with the bacterium Pseudomonas flurescence increased biomass production and alkaloid content of the plant was under stress conditions.

Effect of Bio-Fertilizers on Essential Oil and Yield of Medicinal Plants

Azospirillum seed treatment enhanced root growth and weight, which lead to increased production of dry leaf, pod and overall dry matter production of senna (Cassia angustifolia) as observed by Arumugam et al , (2001). Azotobacter application with or without mineral fertilizers significantly increased the yield without any adverse impact on oil quality of rainfed palmarosa. Kapoor et al, (2004) reported that fennel root symbiosis with two species of mycorrhizal fungi, including Glomus macrocarpum and Glomus fasiculatum significantly improved properties as are followed the number of umbels in plant, seed weight, phosphorus concentration, biomass percentage of AM root colonization and amount of essence.

Medicinal and Aromatic Plants as a Component of Organic Farming for Soil Fertility and Environment Concern

Aromatic crop spent grass and spent wash are good organic source of nutrient supply of to the other crop and in nutrient recycling for fertilizer economy. The spent by product can also used as mulch for moisture conservation and weed control. Incorporation of palmarosa distilled grass at the rate of 5 t/ha along with N decreased weed biomass, conserved soil moisture and increased the rainfed palmarosa biomass and oil yield (Prakasa Rao et al, 2001). Citronella spent grass and menthol mint used for mulching along with 180 kg N after the sprout of menthol mint rhizomes enhanced the yield of main and ratoon mint crop.

Medicinal and Aromatic Plants as Bio-Pesticides for other Crops

Some of the medicinal and aromatic plants exhibited pesticidal and antimicrobial properties can be used as biopesticide in organic farming. All the plant parts of pink and white periwinkle ( Catharanthus sps.) can be used in control of nematodes and this crop is also used as a trap crop for the controlling of root knot nematodes (Meloidogyne incognita) and (Meloidogynejavanica) in many a crops and reduces infection in Okra. Essential oil of cymbopogon species (C. Martinii, C.flexuousus and C. winterianus) their major constituents geraniol, citrol and citronellol were toxic to nematode species like Anguinatritici, Meloidogynejavanica and Heteroderaavenae.



References:

- Arumugam, T., Doraipandian, A., Premalakshmi, V. and Vijayakumar, M. 2001. Studies on the effect of biofertilizer on biomass production in senna ( Cassia angustifolia Vahl.) Changing scenario in the production systems of horticultural crops. In: Proc. Natal. Sem. held at Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India, (28-30 August 2001). South Indian Horticulture, 49: 178-80.

- Chand S, Pandey A, Patra D. 2012. Influnce of nikel and lead applied in combination with vermicompost on growth and accumulation of heavy metals by mint. Indian Journal of Natural Products and Resources, 3: 256- 61.

- Fatma A, Gharib I, Lobana A, Mossa A, Osama N. 2008. Effect of Compost and Bio-fertilizers on Growth, Yield and Essential Oil of Sweet Marjoram (Majorana hortensis) Plant.International Journal of Agriculture and Biology, 4: 381- 87.

- Kapoor, R., Giri B and Mukerji K. G. 2004. Improved growth and essential oil yield and quality in Foeniculum vulgare Mill on mycorrhizal inoculation supplemented with P-fertilizer. Bioresource Technology, 93: 307-11

- Prakasa Rao, E.V.S., Ganesha Rao, R.S. and Puttanna, K. 2001. Studies on in situ soil moisture conservation and additions of Phosphorus and potassium in rainfed palmarosa {Cymbopogon martiniivar. motia) in a semi-arid tropical region of India. European Journal of Agronomy, 14: 167-72.



About Author / Additional Info:
Ph.D student in department of Agronomy, AAU, Anand