EFFECT OF ORGANIC AND INORGANIC FERTILIZERS ON BIOMASS PRODUCTION , OIL YIELD AND QUALITY OF VETIVER (Vetiveria zizanioides L.)

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.