Effect of Nitrogen Fertilizer on Essential Oil Content and its Compositions inAnethum graveolensL.

Anethum graveolens is cultivated since ancient times as a vegetable, aromatic, carminative and antispasmodic in Iran. This field experiment was conducted in the form of factorial experiment based on randomized complete blocks design. Treatments were at four levels of nitrogen rates (control, 50, 100 and 150 kg.ha-1) that used in the form of urea fertilizer. The effect of N fertilizer on height plant, biological yield and the essential oil percentage of Dill and its correlations was determined. The essential oil of Dill was obtained by hydro distillation method for 2 hours and then the composition of essential oil was determined by GC-MS. The results indicated that the highest biological yield obtained at N (150 kg/hr). The essential oil yield was 2.00-2.25% (v/w). Seventeen compounds were identified and α-phellandrene (49.54%), p-cymene (18.19%), Limonene (13.79%) and β-phellandrene (9.00%) were the major component of the essential oil.