Abstract:
A field experiment was conducted at Medicinal Plant Garden, Research and Training Facility,
Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna to find out most suitable fertilizer combination
for higher growth, yield and quality of Vetiver. Different proportions of organic and inorganic
fertilizers such as inorganic fertilizer alone, compost: inorganic fertilizer (1:3), compost:
inorganic fertilizer (1:1), compost: inorganic fertilizer (3:1), compost alone and control (top
soil: sand-1:2) were used as treatments. Growth, yield, oil content and quality parameters were
taken 9 months after planting. Compost: inorganic fertilizer (3:1) mixture showed significantly
higher shoot and root dry weights, number of leaves and tillers at 9 months after planting.
Compost: inorganic fertilizer (3:1) mixture also showed significantly higher amounts of β–
Vetivenene, Khusimol, and Iso-valencinol contents compared to other treatments. Therefore,
compost: inorganic fertilizer (3:1) could be used as optimal fertilizer mixture for higher biomass
production, oil content and quality of Vetiver.
