Interactions of Organic Fertilizers and Planting Densities on Essential Oil and Plant Yield of Satureja mutica in Dry Farming

Document Type : Research paper

Authors

1 Medicinal Plants Research Department, Kermanshah Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Research Institute of Forest and Rangelands (RIFR), Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Kermanshah, Iran

2 Crop and Horticulture Research Department, Kermanshah Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Kermanshah, Iran

3 Rangeland and Watershed Department, Kermanshah Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center, Research Institute of Rangeland and Watershed, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Kermanshah, Iran

Abstract

White savory is a medicinal plant native to Iran. It is known for its tolerance to water-deficit conditions. A farm experiment evaluated cultivation in dryland conditions while describing interactions among organic fertilizers (O. F.). Planting densities affected essential oil (EO) and yield-related traits in white savory under dryland farming. This experiment was conducted in the Mehregan Research Station, Kermanshah, by a split-plot design based on RCBD with three replications, and three fertilizer treatments, i.e., cow manure (30 tons ha-1), wheat straw enriched with sulfate ammonium (10 tons ha -1), and farm soil. There were three planting densities, i.e., low-density (2.66), medium-density (4), and high-density (8 plant m-2) during the 2017- 2018 and 2018-2019 crop years. The highest two-year average of fresh yield (3149.90 kg ha-1) and dry yield (1611.70 kg ha-1) occurred in response to rotten cow manure × high-density treatment. The highest two-year average of EO percentage (2.19%) resulted from using rotten cow manure × low-density planting. The highest EO yield (32.60 kg ha-1) resulted from enriched straw × high-density planting. The highest plant fresh yield (3434.02 kg×ha-1), plant dry yield (1231.98 kg ha-1), and EO yield (24.68 kg ha-1) resulted from the second year of harvest. We recommend dry farming S. mutica in a modified substrate using 30 tons ha-1 rotten cow manure and a row spacing of 50 × 25 cm in mountainous regions, where annual rainfall is more than 450 mm on average. 

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