Productivity and Quality of Chamomile (Chamomilla recutita (L.) Rausch.) Grown in an Organic System Depending on Foliar Biopreparations and Row Spacing

Abstract

The study involved a field experiment conducted on two cultivars of chamomile (‘Złoty Łan’ and ‘Mastar’) in the climatic and soil conditions of the central Lublin region (Poland) during the years 2016–2018. The experiment was designed to determine the effects of three foliar biological preparations (growth stimulant Bio-algeen, fertilizer Herbagreen Basic, and Effective Microorganisms applied as EM Farming spray), which were applied once or twice, on the yield and quality of herbal raw material of chamomile grown under organic conditions. Chamomile was grown at different row spacings (40 cm and 30 cm). The biopreparations (in particular Herbagreen Basic) had a positive effect on chamomile yield (about 10–11% in comparison with control treatment) and yield attributing characters (plant height, number of branches, and inflorescences per plant) as well as on the quality parameters. The EM Farming had a minimal influence on the quantity characteristics studied, but it beneficially affected essential oil and chlorophyll content. The biopreparations had a more favorable effect when they were applied twice. The wider row spacing of chamomile (40 cm) promoted higher yields (about 18%) compared to 30 cm. The narrower spacing (30 cm), however, contributed to better quality characteristics of herbal raw material. The study confirmed much higher productivity and quality of the cultivar ‘Złoty Łan’ compared to cv. ‘Mastar’ (about 15%). Significant interactions of experimental factors concerned mainly the formation of the essential oil content in herbal raw material (the most advantageous was the ‘Złoty Łan’ cultivar sown at a row spacing of 30 cm with the use of Herbagreen Basic biopreparation twice).