Organic production of German chamomile (Matricaria recutita L.) intercropped with pot marigold (Calendula officinalis L.)

Abstract

Effects of organic production of German Chamomile intercropped with Pot Marigold, on agronomic criteria and chemical composition of German Chamomile was studied in a split plot design with three applications. Treatments were four levels of animal manure (0, 30, 40 and 50 tons/ha) as main plots and five seeding ratio of German Chamomile with Pot Marigold (100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75 and 0:100) as sub plots. Results showed that animal manure has no effects on total dry matter of Matricaria chamomilla. However with decreasing proportion of seeding rates of German Chamomile in the mixture, leaf area, total dry matter yield and seed yield of German Chamomile was reduced. Chamazulene content of essential oil was affected by leaf area and seed yield. Seeding ratios of 50:50 or 25:75 were the most promising seeding rates in terms of Chamazulene content.