Evaluación del comportamiento del cilantro (Coriandrum sativum) bajo diferentes niveles de nitrógeno en el cantón Colta, provincia de Chimborazo

Abstract

Coriander is a crop of economic importance for its culinary and pharmaceutical uses; however, its productivity can be affected by both weather variations and deficiencies in fertilization plans. In the present investigation, the effect of the nitrogen fertilization dose on the yield and quality of the coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) crop was evaluated in Canton Colta, province of Chimborazo, using three sources of nitrogenous fertilizers (urea, ammonium nitrate and Ferthigue) were used at three doses levels (high, medium and low) on the parameters plant height, number of petioles, root length, fresh weight of the plant, time to harvest and yield in purple coriander plants. The experiment was conducted under a split plot design. As results, an interaction effect was found between the source and the dose of the fertilizer applied on the growth of coriander plant measured at 57, 70 and 90 days after sowing. In a similar way, an interaction effect between the source and fertilization dose on the fresh weight in coriander plants was detected, while only the individual effect of the fertilization source in root length and petiole number was observed. Finally, no effect of either the source or the dose was found on the number of plumules per plant or on the time to harvest. Based on the economic analysis, the highest cost-benefit ratio was achieved with urea and ammonium nitrate in the highest doses, however, given that the organic fertilizer also showed promising results, its inclusion is suggested in order to reduce the negative effect of inorganic fertilizers.