Effect of Green Compost Processed Organic Fertilizer and Chlorella Microalgae Solution on Growth, Antioxidant and Phenolic Content of Tropaeolum majus under Drought Stress

Abstract

Environmental stresses, especially drought, are the most important factors in reducing growth of the plant. The effect of processed organic fertilizer of green compost and chlorella microalgae solution on growth, antioxidant properties and some other physiological characteristics of Tropaeolum majus plant under control and drought conditions were investigated. The experiments were performed in pot with a completely randomized design with three replications. Green manure treatment included zero, 5% and 10% by volume of pots. Chlorella microalgae treatment had two levels in terms of zero cells and 368 million cells in each pot. Drought stress was applied based on lack of ten-day and seventeen-day irrigation. After two months, the samples were collected and the relative content of leaf water, fresh weight of aerial parts, phenol content and antioxidant were performed. The results showed that green compost of 10% alone and together with chlorella microalgae significantly reduced the effects of drought stress at 5% level. The use of 5% and 10% of compost with chlorella microalgae significantly increased the growth of the aerial part compared to the control. Microalgae treatments had a more positive effect on antioxidant content and phenol content than green compost in stress and control conditions. Tropaeolum majus plant with chlorella algae treatment with 5 and 10% green compost had the highest amount of proline amino acid under stress.