Influence of Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers on Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) Agronomic Traits, Essential Oil and Components under Semi-Arid Climate

Abstract

Environmental contamination and the excessive use of inorganic fertilizers resulting in stagnant yields of field crops which necessitate the utilization of combined fertilization approach under changing climatic conditions. Current study was aimed to clarify the influence of several fertilizer sources (chemical, organic, organomineral fertilizers) on yield and quality of coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.). The results revealed that the fertilizer sources significantly affected the yield of coriander cultivars. The absence of “Year × Variety × Fertilizer Type” interactions for any of the noted parameters signaled that the detected “Variety × Fertilizer Type” interactions were constant regardless of the year factor. The recorded values of traits according to fertilizer sources different for the plant height from 61.85 to 69.67 cm, number of branches from 5.98 to 7.71 (piece/plant), number of umbels per the main umbel from 5.62 to 7.18 pieces, seed yield from 1.06 to 1.66 t/ha−1, the biological yield from 4.29 to 5.70 t ha−1, harvest index from 25.29 to 29.41%, essential oil ratio from 0.29 to 0.33%, and essential oil yield from 3.1 to 5.6 L ha−1. Erbaa variety was observed to be superior over the rest of the varieties producing the maximum values of 6.5 L ha−1 of essential oil, 0.36% essential oil content, 30.9% harvest index, 1.81 t/ha seed yield, and 5.9 t ha−1 biological yield with the treatment of chemical fertilizers.