Effect of vermicompost on the nutrient elements of the fennel shoot under saline conditions

Salinity as an abiotic stress is one of the most important factors reducing plant products in most regions of the world. Fennel that all its parts, including grain, shoot, and root, are used by human in different ways, is relatively sensitive to salt stress. On the other hand, vermicompost organic fertilizer has physical properties and a high content of minerals that may reduce the negative effect of this stress on the plants. In this study, the effect of 0 and 5% vermicompost treatments in the exposure of 0, 40, 80 and 120 mM NaCl on Bushehr and Mashhad fennel landraces was investigated as a factorial design in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Plants were cultured in the research greenhouse of Yazd University. After five weeks, the plants were harvested and some mineral elements of the shoot were measured. The results showed that salinity stress increased sodium content and reduced the amount of potassium, calcium, zinc, molybdenum, magnesium, iron, phosphate and nitrate of the shoot in fennel landraces. Application of vermicompost reduced the sodium content and increased other studied minerals. However, this increase was not significant in the case of zinc and iron elements of Bushehr landrace, and zinc and magnesium of Mashhad landrace. Vermicompost, due to having micro and macro elements, improved the mineral elements of the shoot of two fennel landraces of Bushehr and Mashhad, so it can limit the effect of salinity stress on this plant.

کلیدواژه ها:

Abiotic stress ، Mineral elements ، Organic fertilizer ، Medicinal plant