Background: As application of chemical fertilizers has been recognized to cause pollution soil, water and agricultural products, today bio-fertilizers are an alternative to mineral fertilizers for increasing soil productivity and plant growth in sustainable agriculture. Objective: To determine the effects of biological and chemical fertilizers on qualitative and quantitative yield of Shirazian Babooneh (Matricaria recutita L.) Methods: This study was done in a randomized complete block design with three replications and six treatments along 2009- 2010. The treatments were A (Control or no applying fertilizer), B (Bio-fertilizer as Nitroxin+ 53 Kg/ha chemical fertilizer), C (Bio-fertilizer as Super nitro plus + 53 Kg/ha chemical fertilizer), D (Bio-fertilizer as mix of Super nitro plus & Nitroxin + 35 Kg/ha chemical fertilizer), E (Bio-fertilizer as Bio-sulfur) and F (106 Kg/ha chemical fertilizer). Results: The fertilizer treatments had significant effects on plant height (p<0.05), plant dry weight (p<0.05), capitol diameter (p<0.01), fresh weight of capitol per ha (p<0.01), dry weight of capitol per ha (p<0.05), essential oil yield per ha (p<0.01), chamazulene content (p<0.01) and total flavonoid content (p<0.01). The chemical fertilizer had not significant effect on qualitative and quantitative yield of Shirazian Babooneh and the lowest qualitative and quantitative yield of Shirazian Babooneh was related to control (A) and chemical fertilizer (F) treatments. Although, the application of bio-fertilizers significantly increased the yield in respect of all studied parameters, the highest dry weight of capitol and content of essential oil were observed in biosulfur (E) treatment. Conclusion: The application of the bio- fertilizers increased qualitative and quantitative yield of Shirazian Babooneh and Bio-sulfur treatment was the best treatment. Also, the application of the bio- fertilizers can be in order to reduction in application of chemical fertilizers in agro-ecosystem which is attitude toward minimize of environmental pollution and sustainable agriculture.

Background: Nutrition is an important factor in plant growth and phytochemical compound. Application of natural fertilizers in medicinal plants production can improve their yield and medicinal indices. Objective: This study investigated the possibility of substituting chemical fertalizers by biofertalizer (Nitroxin, biophosPhorus and bioSulfur) in purple coneflower production. We compared vegetative yield and total phenolic compounds of purple coneflower in response to biofertalizers and chemical nitrogen. Methods: Experiment was conducted at field of Tarbiat Modares University on 2009-2010 growing seasons using a RCBD with three replications. Twelve experimental treatments included: chemical nitrogen as urea (C), biosulfur (S), biophosphorus (P) nitroxin(N), urea+biosulfur(CS), urea+biophosphorus(CP), urea+nitroxin(CN), biophosphorus+biosulfur(PS), Nitroxin+biosulfur(NS), nitroxin + biophosphorus(NP), integration of three biofertilizers (NPS) and the control (without fertalizers). Results: Treatments had significant effect (p≤ 0.05) on the number of lateral branches, number of flowers, diameter of flower, stem and root, plant height, root length, dry biological yeild, harvest index, plant nitrogen and phosphor content. NP treatment produced maximum leaf dry weight, biological yield, root length, root and stem diameter and number of lateral branches. Conclusion: Biofertilizers improved yield of purple coneflower. The NP treatment could be introduced as a superior treatment in quantitative traits. Also the PS treatment with the highest yield of root phenolic compound (%116 more than control) could be identified as the best nutritional system for quality. Therfore biofertilisers application can decrease the chemical fertilizer consumption and can bring us closer to the goals of sustainable agriculture.