Soil fertilization practices affect growth, yield and quality of essential oil of Matricaria Recutita grown in Tunisian oases

Both quality and quantity of medicinal plant production is influenced by the physico-chemical properties of soil. It has been demonstrated that different soil amendments can affect the production of plants. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of soil amendments on the soil bulk density (SBD), porosity (SP), pH and potassium (K), phosphorus (P) contains and its effects on Matricaria recutita growth, yield and essential oil (EO) quality. A field experiment was carried out using three common soil amendments: compost (C), manure (M) and sand (S) compared with the native soil in the littoral oases of Gabes, Tunisia. C, M and S were incorporated up to a depth of 10–15 cm at a rate of 440 Kg ha−1. A randomized complete block experimental design was used and the plots planted with Matricaria recutita. Results shown that the different fertilization systems affected chamomile yield and improved its EO quality and composition. The amendment with S ameliorated the quality of the EO and enhanced the accumulation of α-Bisabolol oxide, while the application of M and C fertilization improved the quantity of Chamazulen and the antioxidant activity. However, the overall results of this study revealed that soil amended with organic fertilizers could be a potential dose for maximum growth yield and better quality of EO extracted from capitula of chamomile. Thus, the introduction of chamomile culture into the Tunisian oases could be of great interest.