A factorial experiment between four humic acid levels (0, 1, 2 and 4% as soil application) and three Aromatic-Power fertilizer levels (0, 0.5 and 1 % as foliar spray) was conducted during the two successive winter seasons of 2012/13 and 2013/14 at the Expt. Farm Hort. Res. Station at Sides, Agric. Res. Center, Beni Suef Governorate. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of humic acid and aromatic-power and their interactions on growth, yield, fixed and volatile oils production, as well as, some chemical constituents of Lepidium sativum L. plant, as an effective and inexpensive alternative for plant nutrition.
All studied vegetative growth traits; i.e., plant height (cm), branches number/ plant and herb fresh and dry weights/ plot (kg) were significantly increased by humic acid applications. Such enhancements in plant growth were reflected as significant increases in number of silique/ plant, weight of 1000 seeds (g), fruit yield per plot and per fad (kg) and fixed and volatile oils percentages and yields/ fad in seeds as well as percentages of total nitrogen,totalprotein, total carbohydrates and lipids in seeds. The highest yield and quality were found in plants received the highest humic acid level of 4%. Foliar spray of Aromatic-power fertilizer significantly improved the abovementioned traits of growth, yield, oils production and chemical constituents of seeds. The highest rate of 1% Aromatic-power was the superior in increasing plant growth and yield and its quality. More increases in plant growth and in seed yield and its quality were noticed when humic acid interacted with Aromatic-power fertilization.
Conclusively, it could be recommend that using humic acid (Hammar compound) as soil application at 4% three times during season interacted with foliar nutrient of Aromatic-power fertilizer at 1% three times during season as an effective and inexpensive alternative to plant nutrition for enhance garden cress growth and yield.