New agro-technology to increase productivity of chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.)

•Traditionally fertilizers are top dressed in chamomile cultivation.•New Agro-technology developed based on site specific plant nutrient management (SSPNM).•SSPNM provide approximately two time higher oil yield of chamomile, without additional input.•SSPNM reduces the unit cost of chamomile oil production.

A field experiment was conducted to standardize an economic and efficient method of fertilizer application in chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) cultivation during rabi season in two consecutive year 2013–14 and 2014–15. For this purpose, four methods of fertilizer application were evaluated as site specific plant nutrient management (SSPNM) and their responses were ascertained with respect to yield attributes, flower yield, and essential oil yield of chamomile. The two year experiment results revealed that different fertilizer application methods, the T4 (100:60:40 kg NPK ha−1 incorporated in surrounding soil of the plant: 1/3rd N and full dose of P2O5 and K2O as basal, and 1/3rd N each at 25–30 days after transplanting and 40–45 days after transplanting) recorded significantly highest attributes like; plant height (63–64 cm), dry flower yield (4.11–4.14 Mg ha−1), oil content (0.91%), and oil yield (37.32–37.84 kg ha−1) as compared to T3, and T2; and the lowest value of plant height (44–46 cm), dry flower yield (2.15–2.16 Mg ha−1), oil content (0.70%), and oil yield (15.05–15.12 kg ha−1) were recorded in control (no fertilizer) during both the years.