Organic fertilizers in sustainable agricultural system are causing yield stability, especially in production of medicinal plants. Also consideration to forgotten medicinal plants such as Zuleng (Eryngium caucasicum Trautv.) that the leaves contain essential oils is most important because of the rich genetic potential. In order to evaluate the effects of different organic and chemical fertilizers on Zuleng (Eryngium caucasicum Trautv.), experiment was installed in a completely randomized block design with three replications in Sari city at 2011- 2012. Treatments were concluded vermicompost, compost, compost and vermicompost, chemical fertilizer, chemical fertilizer and compost, chemical fertilizer and vermicompost, compost and vermicompost and chemical fertilizer, control (no organic or chemical fertilizer). Fertilization rate was 150 kg/ha chemical fertilizer (NPK), 10 T/ha vermicompost and 15 T/ha compost. Fresh and dry yield, leaf area index, leaf number, essential oil percentage and yield and also, major secondary metabolite were investigated. Results had suggested that there were significant differences in most characters between treatments and control (p=%5 level) except essential oil percentage. Highest percentage of1-limonene was in the compost treatment and maximum levels of 5-methyl-2-pyrimidone and β-sesquiphellandrene were in the compost + vermicompost mixture. The highest fresh weight yield, leaf area index and 4-(1, 5-dimethylhex-4-enyl) cyclohex-2-enonepercentage were obtained in 10 T/ha vermicompost treatment.

Keywords: Infrequent medicinal plants, Organic Agriculture, Organic fertilizers, Zuleng.

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