الفهرس 
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Abstract
This study was carried out during the two successive seasons of 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 at the Nursery of Ornamental plants, Faculty of Agriculture, Minia University to study the effect of compost at 0.0, 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 ton/fed. (Main plot, A) and tow natural growth promoting (ascorbic acid and salicylic acid, each at 50, 100 and 200 ppm and control) (Sub-plot, B) and their combination (A x B) on the vegetative growth, flowering aspects and essential oil production as well as chemical composition of chamomile plants.
The results could be summarized as follows:
A. Effect of compost treatments (A):
A.1. Vegetative growth parameters :
all vegetative growth parameters including plant height, number of branches/plant and herb fresh and dry weights were significantly increased by application chamomile plants with 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 ton/fed. compost comparing to control treatments. The treatment 7.5 t/fed. compost was more effective in this concern.
A.2. Flowering parameters:
Supplying plants with compost at 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 ton/fed. led to significant improve in flowers fresh and dry weights/plant and /fed., with the heaviest weights of flowers were obtained with 7.5 ton/fed. compost.
A.3. Essential oil productivity:
Essential oil % and oil yield per plant and per fed. were increased by each level of compost, with the highest percentages and yield/plant and /fed. being obtained with 7.5 ton/fed. compost.
A.4. Chemical composition:
Photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a, b and carotenoids) were significantly enhanced with compost treatments (2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 ton/fed.) as compared to control. The highest contents were obtained with 7.5 ton/fed. compost.
B. Effect of ascorbic acid and salicylic acid treatments:
B.1. Vegetative growth parameters:
Spraying chamomile plants with ascorbic acid at 50, 100 and 200 ppm and salicylic acid at 50, 100 and 200 ppm cause significantly increased all vegetative growth parameters in comparison with control treatments. Salicylic acid at 200 ppm followed by ascorbic acid at 200 ppm recorded the highest values in this concern.
B.2. Flowering parameters:
Using of the six treatments of ascorbic and salicylic acids significantly increased fresh and dry weights of flower/plant and /fed. facing control treatments. The heaviest flowers weights were obtained with salicylic acid at 200 ppm followed by ascorbic acid at 200 ppm without significant differences were detected between them in most cases.
B.3. Essential oil productivity:
All used treatments of both ascorbic acid and salicylic acid led to significantly improved in essential oil (%) and essential oil yield/plant and /fed. Salicylic acid at 200 ppm was superior than other used treatments.
B.4. Chemical composition
Photosynthetic pigments namely; chlorophyll a, b and carotenoids contents were significantly improved by any treatment tested as compared with control. In most cases, salicylic acid (200 ppm) was effective than other treatments.
C. Effect of the interaction treatments (A x B):
C.1. Vegetative growth parameters:
The interaction effect was significant for all studied vegetative growth parameters. The interaction treatment of compost at 7.5 t/fed. in combination with salicylic acid (200 ppm), in most cases or compost (7.5 t/fed.) plus ascorbic acid (200 ppm), in some cases resulted the best interaction treatments.
C.2. Flowering parameters:
Flowering parameters (flower fresh and dry weights/plant and /fed.) were considerably increased due to all used interaction treatments. The interaction treatment compost at 7.5 t/fed. in combination with salicylic acid (200 ppm) was the most effective comparing with other tested interaction treatments in increasing flowers dry weights/plant and /fed.
C.3. Essential oil productivity:
The interaction treatments were significant for essential oil (%) and essential oil yield/plant and /fed. The combination between 7.5 t/fed. compost and salicylic acid (200 ppm) was superior than other interaction treatments.
C.4. Chemical composition
The interaction treatments were significant for chlorophyll a, b and carotenoids. The interaction treatments of compost 7.5 t/fed. plus 200 ppm salicylic acid or 200 ppm ascorbic acid were more effective in increasing chlorophyll b, while compost 7.5 t/fed. plus salicylic acid at 200 ppm much more effective in increasing chlorophyll b and carotenoids content.
RECOMMENDATION
It could be recommended to supply plants of chamomile with compost at 7.5 t/fed. and spraying plants three times with salicylic acid at 200 ppm to obtain the best growth and good productivity of flowers and essential oil under Minia Governorate conditions.