German chamomile (Matricaria recutita recutita) from Asteraceae, is one of the most important medicinal plants which has been used with man for thousands years.
Chamomile is an annual with 60 cm height, small aromatic flowers, which fare yellow centers and white margins. Flowers appear and beharvested along with spring and summer stems with circular section, seeds are white 1-1.2mm length. It is originated in Europe and northwest of asia, but at present time is cultivated over all the world.
It can be cultivated in different ecological condition however its optimum condition is mediteranian. Chamomile is annual plant but its seed dosen’t need to chilling for germination and could be grown any time in spring. The light is an essentioal factor for its growth but it can growth well in most soils. It has many different cultivars have been improved in order to increasing of essentiol oils.
Chamomile is cultivated in two different methods; direct and indirect sowing that is depending on environmental factors. Due to shallow growth of root systems this plant needs forequent irrigation.
Chamomile is manually harvested in Iran where as its cultivation and harvesting are mechanized in more developed countries.
Fresh flower yield can be estimated to be 3500-4000kg per hect are with 75-80% misture. In this study chamomile is cultivated in two different methods (direct and indirect), two different times (spring and autumn) and flower yidd is compaired. In direct method Seeds are snow with three different seed density i.e. 5, 7, 9kg/Ha and in direct method, seedlings are cultivated with 75, 20, 25, 50cm spacings. The results shown that the best treatment was direct method with 5-7 kg/Ha and it indirect method is used, the best time is spring with 15×50cm.