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 that is resistance to water deficit conditions. A farm experiment was carried out to evaluate the possibility of dry farming cultivation and describe interactions among different organic fertilizers (O. Fs.). Planting densities were evaluated for their effects on essential oil (EO) and yield-related traits in white savory under dry farming. This experiment was conducted in the Mehregan Research Station of 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 by 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 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%) occurred in response to rotten cow manure × low-density planting. The highest EO yield (32.60 kg×ha-1) occurred in response to 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. The dry farming of S. mutica plants is recommended in a modified substrate by 30 tons/ha of 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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