The Study on the Effect of Different Manure and Plants Density on the Growth and some Quantitative Characteristics of Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum L.)

Milk thistle (Silybum marianum L.) is an annual medicinal plant. Silybum marianum has been recognized as an antihepatotoxic plant. The active constituents of S. marianum include a group of flavonolignans known collectively as silymarin. To investigation the effects of different manure and plant density and the intraction between manure and density on the grows and some quantitative characteristics of this plant an experiment were examined. The completely Randomized design was installed in the experimental field, College of Agricultural of Ferdowsi University located in Mashhad. The treatments were included of two factors. The first factor included 3 different manure: cow, ship and multiple manure (1.65kg.m-2) and the second factor was three level of plant density (5, 7 and 10 pl.m-2) whit 3 replications. At the end of fullbloom stage, morphological characteristics included plant height, number of shoots, number and diameter of capitule, percentage of leaf dry matter, percentage of healthy and free seeds, mass of 1000 grains of main and secondary capitule and chlorophyll content of leaf. Mean comparison was carried out using LSD test (at 5% level). Results showed a significant effect on number of capitula and shoots and plant height. By increase in plant density: plant height, number of shoots, number of capitule and mass of 1000 grains were decreased. The results showed that the best kind of manure was ship manure and the most suitable plant density was 40×40cm (5 plant per m₂).

Keywords: Milk thistle, Silybum marianum, Animal Manure, Plant Density