The biomass and essential oil production of 'mandirituba' chamomile capitula were evaluated as a function of nitrogen and phosphorus. Treatments consisted of 60 kg ha-1 of N as ammonia sulfate (SA) and urea form, of 200 kg ha-1 of P2O5 in triple superphosphate (ST) form, SA+ST combination, urea + ST and control (omission of mineral fertilization). The randomized block design was used with four replications. maximum height of plants (0,51 m) and fresh (3,693 kg ha-1) and dried (752 kg ha-1) mass of capitula were obtained where triple superphosphate and urea fertilizers were mixed. Treatment with isolated urea resulted in smallest fresh (2,065 kg ha-1) and dried (410 kg ha-1) mass production of capitula. ST promoted the greatest yield of capitula (average of 42.515,000 capitula ha-1). maximum contents of N and P in capitula were 3,43 dag kg-1 and 0.79 dag kg-1, respectively. essential oil content of capitula was 0,50 ml 100g-1 of fresh mass for all treatments. The triple superphosphate associated or not to urea is recommended to increase plant and biomass of aerial part and of capitula. N and P fertilization did not influence the essential oil yield neither N and P content of capitula.
Chamomile Chamomilla recutita (L.) Rauschert; Asteraceae; medicinal plant
