Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.), a member of the Apiaceae family, is among most widely used medicinal plant, possessing nutritional as well as medicinal properties. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate the effect of foliar application of chitosan at 20, 40, 60 and 80 ppm and salicylic acid at 15, 30, 45 and 60 ppm on improving coriander production for fruits and essential oil. The study was conducted at El- Baramoon Research Farm, Mansoura Horticulture Research Station, HRI, ARC, Egypt, during the two growing winter seasons of 2013/2014 and 2014/2015. It is clear that foliar application of either chitosan or salicylic acid at all used concentrations significantly promoted the vegetative growth characters in terms of plant height, number of branches per plant and plant fresh and dry weights. Moreover, fruit yield and its components in terms of number of umbels per plant and fruit yield per plant were also significantly higher than control treatment. Germination percentage, seed index and essential oil percentage and content were positively affected by foliar application of chitosan or salicylic acid with the superiority of chitosan. The greatest increase in the previously mentioned parameters was measured in plants (vegetative growth and yield components) sprayed with chitosan at 80 ppm followed by chitosan at 60 ppm and salicylic acid at 45 ppm. For obtaining high fruit yield and its quality as well as essential oil percentage and content of coriander plants, it could be recommended to spray plants twice with chitosan at 80 ppm.