Journal of Applied Biosciences (J. Appl. Biosci.) [ISSN 1997 - 5902]
Volume 16: 862 - 863. Published April 4, 2009.
Effect of planting date and density on the yield and yield components of milk thistle (Silybum marianum, L.)
Shamsi, K.
Department of Agronomy, Islamic Azad Univesity, Kermanshah, Iran.
Corresponding author email: shams2_k@yahoo.com
ABSTRACT
Objective: Silybum is an annual plant that grows in many European and Asian countries and has medicinal use, e.g. curing some kidney and liver diseases. This study determined the effect of planting date on phenological development and yield components of Silybum.
Methodology and results: A factorial experiment was done in the research field of the Agricultural College of Kermanshah (Iran). The planting date (factor A) was assessed at three levels (29th March, 25th April and 20th May,) while density (factor B) was set at three levels (40, 50, and 60cm spacing). Results indicated that height of plant, number of capitols per plant, grain yield and 1000 - grain weight, were all affected significantly by variations in planting dates (P≤0.01). Results also showed that density levels tested had no significant effect on the evaluated parameters.
Key words
Silybum, planting date, planting density, yield, yield componentsFULL PAPER [PDF AVAILABLE HERE]
