Evaluation of physiological, biochemical and agronomic characteristics of thorn apple (Datura stramonium L.) under residual effect of conventional and low input cropping systems

Towards the cultivation of datura medicinal herb in a low cropping system, an experiment was conducted on split plot based on a randomized complete block design with three replications, at the Research Station of Bayakola (Mazandaran), during 2016 and 2017. Experimental treatments were plant nutrition as a main plot at five levels (NPK, farmyard manure, compost, vermicompost and non-use of organic and inorganic fertilizers and biofertilizer as subplot at five levels (bio-phosphate, nitroxin, nitroxin + bio-phosphate, nano-bioumik and non-application of bio and nano bio-fertilizer. Results showed that the highest plant height (172.21 cm), number of branches per plant (63.59), number of leaves per plant (230.99), total plant leaf area (6567.93 cm2), leaf dry weight (477.33 g/plant), chlorophyll a, b and total carotenoid (1.806, 1.373 and 0.473 mg/g FW, respectively), total leaf carbohydrate (45.47 mg/g DW), seed protein (26.10 %), total alkaloids of leaf and seed (62.04 and 12.94 mg/g DW, respectively), number of fruits per plant (59.57), number of seeds per fruit (456.84), 1000 seeds weight (9.02 g) and seed yield (7927.4 Kg/ha) were belonged to the combination of vermicompost and nano-bioumik fertilizers treatments. Therefore, with respect to the necessity of producing medicinal plants in the low-input cropping systems and the high efficiency of vermicompost and nano bioumik combination treatment, using a load of it for two consecutive years are recommended for improving physiological, biochemical and agronomic characteristics of thorn apple.