Effects of irrigation regims and fertilizers on qualitative and quantitative triats of Purslan (Portolaca oleraceae)

Background and objectives: However, Common Purslane (Portulaca oleracea) that is known more as a weed, but it has the most widely used such as herb and spice. This wide uses and high quality oil production in its seeds investigates many research fields to use this valuable plant in human nutrition, livestock and aquatic animals feeding. Therefore, due to superior oil quality of Purslane against other oilseeds because of considerable omega-3 fatty acid in its leaves and on the other hand according to climate change and limited access to water resources, it seems necessary to change the pattern of cultivation in arid and semi-arid areas in Iran (87% of the total area of the country), cultivation of drought-resistant crops such as Purslane, it is possible to optimal use of limited water resources.
Materials and methods:
The effects of different levels of irrigation and fertilizer regimes on the quantity and quality parameters of Purslane (Portulaca oleracea) were assessed in a trial at the Institute of Agriculture, University of Zabol, during growing seasons. The experiment was carried out in a split plot as randomized complete block design with three replications. The experiment treatments consisted of three irrigation levels [80% (no stress), 60% (mild stress) and 40% (severe)] of available water in main plots and five fertilizer levels [Control (without any fertilizer use), Cow manure (20 tones. ha-1), Vermicompost (15 tones. ha-1), Urea (150 kg. ha-1) and NPK (100 kg. ha-1) in subplots. Measurement of soil moisture during the growth period was done using TDR.
Results: Some parameters include: number of leaves per plant, fresh and dry weight of leaves, fresh and dry weight of root, seed weight, number of branches, number of capsules per plant, amount of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, Proline, Oxalic acid and Anthocyanin in leaves as properties was measured. Analysis of variance due to irrigation, fertilizer and their interaction was significant on all measured traits. High amounts of leaves fresh and dry weight, root fresh and dry weight, seed weight, number of branches, number of capsules per plant and chlorophyll a and b, was obtained from the optimum irrigation regime (80% available water). Those traits were reduced significantly with increasing the intensity of drought stress, but on the contrary Proline, Anthocyanins and Oxalic acid contents were increased.
Conclusion: Application of fertilizer treatments had a significant effect on quantitative and qualitative yield in all studied characteristics. The treatment of organic fertilizers (vermicompost and cow manure in this case), in addition to obtaining more quantitative and qualitative yields than chemical fertilizers, could modify the effects of drought stress on the measured characteristics. So, by replacing organic fertilizers instead of chemical fertilizers, it can be used to reduce environmental pollution as well as sustainable agricultural development.