The Effect of Nitrogen Rate and Plant Density On

In order to study the effect of nitrogen rate and plant density on morphologicaltraits and essential oil and fruit yield of coriander, a split-plot experiment wascarried out in research field of islamic azad university, birjand branch, birjand,iran in 2010 based on a randomized complete block design with three replications.the main plots were nitrogen rates at four levels (0, 40, 80 and 120 kg n/ha) andthe sub-plots were plant densities at three levels (30, 40 and 50 plants/m2). theresults showed that nitrogen rate had significant effect on fruit yield, essential oilpercent and yield traits and interaction between nitrogen rate and plant densityonly affected fruit yield but change in plant density significantly affected all traitsexcept essential oil percent. means comparison showed that as n fertilization ratewas increased from 0 to 80 kg n ha-1, plant height and fruit yield were increased by19.8 and 74.1 %, respectively. also, essential oil percent increased from 0.153 to0.33% and essential oil yield was greater 2.68 times. moreover, means comparisonshowed that the increase in plant density from 30 to 50 plants/m2, increased plantheight, first fruit distance from ground, fruit and essential oil yield by 14.3, 27.6,31.3 and 36.8%, respectively while stem diameter and branch number per mainstem were decreased by 22.2 and 13.9%, respectively. given the results of thestudy, the treatment of 80 kg n/ha application with the density of 50 plants/m2recommended for the cultivation of coriander in birjand, iran.