Achillea millefolium is a major medicinal and aromatic
herb and has antioxidant, antimicrobial, antispasmodic and antitumor
effects in its essential oil. This research was conducted at Floriculture
Farm and in the Laboratories of Horticulture Departments, Faculty of
Agriculture at Moshtohor, Benha Univ., during 2018/2019 an d
2019/2020 seasons to study the effect of foliar spraying at 2000 mg/l
with various potassium sources i.e., potassium chloride, potassium
citrate, potassium humate, potassium nitrate, potassium silicate,
potassium sulphate, monopotassium phosphate and di-potassium
hydrogen phosphate on vegetative growth, flowering, essential oil
productivity and some chemical constituents of yarrow ( Achillea
millefolium L.) plants. Results showed that various potassium sources
scored highly significant effects on vegetative growth and flowering o f
A. millefolium L. plant, particularly potassium nitrate followe d
potassium humate. Moreover, the richest leaf N% was resulted by
potassium nitrate, whereas, spraying A. millefolium L. plants with
monopotassium phosphate treatment induced the highest values of the
percentage of P (%) and total chlorophylls content (%) as well as the
maximum K (%), while total carbohydrate content was given by
potassium sulphate. In addition, sp raying yarrow plant with potassium
citrate treatment induced the maximum values of essential oil
parameters. Furthermore, the constituents of volatile oil of A.
millefolium L. showed 13 components have been recognized. The
major components were α -bisabolol oxide B, limonene, carvacrol and
chamazulene. Consequently, spraying A. millefolium L. plants with
potassium nitrate or potassium humate is recommended, to boost
growth, flowering and some chemical constituents, whereas potassium
citrate and potassium silicate treatment induced the richest values of
essential oils production. |
