Journal of Applied Sciences 2(3), 2009 Ozean Journal of Applied Sciences 2(3), 2009 ISSN 1943-2429 © 2009 Ozean Publication EFFECT OF POTASSIUM HUMATE AND NITROGEN FERTILIZER ON HERB AND ESSENTIAL OIL OF OREGANO UNDER DIFFERENT IRRIGATION INTERVALS *Said-Al Ahl H. A. H.;** Hasnaa S. Ayad and *S. F. Hendawy Department of Cultivation and Production of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants ** Department of Botany National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, Egypt. *E-mail address for correspondence:
[email protected] ___________________________________________________________________________________________ *
Abstract: Two pot trials were carried out during the 2006 and 2007 seasons to investigate the impact of irrigation intervals (3, 5 and 7 days), potassium-humate (spraying at 1%) and/or nitrogen fertilizer levels (0, 0.6 and 1.2 g N pot -1 as ammonium sulphate) on the fresh weight of herb and essential oil of oregano plants. Irrigating plants every 7 days and with 1.2 g N pot -1 was effective in raising the productivity of herb and the content and yield of essential oil. The interaction between these treatment gave the best results. Concerning essential oil constituents, carvacrol was the major compound followed by P-cymene; γ– terpinene was the third component Key words: Origanum vulgare L., irrigation intervals, nitrogen fertilizer, potassium humate, fresh herb yield, essential oil, GLC analysis ___________________________________________________________________________________________
INTRODUCTION Oregano (Origanum vulgare L.) belongs to the Lamiaceae family, which is indigenous to the Mediterranean region. It also is distributed and cultivated in many areas of the mild, temperate climates of Europe, Asia, North Africa, and America (Ietswaart, 1980; Goliaris et al., 2002). Oregano plays a primary role among culinary herbs in world trade. Traditionally, leaves and flowers of oregano are used in Lithuania mostly for their beneficial properties to cure cough and sore throats and relieve digestive complaints (Ien et al., 2008). Oregano contains essential oils, rich in the two isomeric phenols carvacrol and thymol (Fleisher and Sneer, 1982; Kokkini and Vokou, 1989 and Vokou et al., 1993). The use of oregano as a medicinal plant is attributed to the biological properties of the herb and its essential oil composition. Findings report that oregano is antimicrobial (Didry et al., 1993; Chun et al., 2005 and Paster et al., 2005), an antioxidant (Capecka et al., 2005 and Jaloszynski et al., 2008), and probably stimulates the appetite (Ien et al., 2008). The content of essential oils and their composition are affected by different factors, including genetic makeup (Muzik et al., 1989) and cultivation conditions, such climate, habitat, harvesting time, water stress, and the use of fertilizer (Min et al., 2005; and Stute, 2006). Plant reactions are affected by the amount of soil water directly or indirectly. Drought stress limits the production of 25% of the world's land (Delfine et al., 2005). Water stress in plants influences many metabolic processes, and the extent of its effects depends on drought severity. The optimization of irrigation for the production of fresh herbs and essential oils is important, since water is a major component of the fresh produce and affects both weight and quality (Jones and Tardien, 1998). Water deficit in plants may lead to physiological disorders, such as a reduction in photosynthesis and transpiration (Sarker et al., 2005), and in the case of aromatic plants may cause changes in the yield and composition of their essential oils. For example, water deficit decreased the oil yield of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) (Singh and Ramesh, 2000) and anise (Pimpinella anisum L.) (Zehtab- Salmasi et al., 2001). By contrast, water stress caused an increase in oil production of thyme (Aziz et al., 2008) and citronella grass (Cymbopogen winterianus Jowitt.) expressed on the basis of plant fresh weight. The severity of the water stress response
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Journal of Applied Sciences 2(3), 2009
varied with cultvar and plant density (Fatima et al., 2000). The improvement of plant nutrition can contribute to increased resistance and production when the crop is submitted to water stress. Humic substances are organic compounds that result from the decomposition of plant and animal materials. Humic acid and their salts which derived from coal and other sources may provide a viable alternative to liming, to ameliorate soil acidity and improve soil structurel stability. Research has shown it is the humic fractions (humic acid, fulvic acid and humin) of the soil organic matter that are responsible for the generic improvement of soil fertility and improved productivity (Kononova 1966 and Fortun et al 1989), the same author added that humic acids are known to posses many beneficial agricultural properties, they participate actively in the decomposition of organic matter, rocks and mineral, improve soil structure and change physical properties of soil, promote the chelation of many elements and make these available to plants, aid in in correcting plant chlorisis, enhancement of photosynthesis density and plant root respiration has resulted in greater plant growth with humate application (Smidova, 1960 and Chen and Avid, 1990). Increase the permeability of plant membranes due to humate application resulted in improve growth of various groups of beneficial microorganisms, accelerate cell division, increased root growth and all plant organs for a number of horticultural crops and turfgrasses, as well as, the growth of some trees, Russo and Berlyn (1990), Sanders et al (1990) and Poincelot (1993). Plant nutrition is one of the most important factors that increase plant production. Nitrogen is most recognized in plants for its presence in the structure of the protein molecule. In addition, nitrogen is found in such important molecules as purines, pyrimidines, porphyrines, and coenzymes. Purines and pyrimidines are found in the nucleic acids RNA and DNA, which are essential for protein synthesis. The porphyrin structure is found in such metabolically important compounds as the chlorophyll pigments and the cytochromes, which are essential in photosynthesis and respiration. Coenzymes are essential to the function of many enzymes. Accordingly, nitrogen plays an important role in synthesis of the plant constituents through the action of different enzymes. Nitrogen limiting conditions increase volatile oil production in annual herbal. Nitrogen fertilization has been reported to reduce volatile oil content in Juniperus horizontalis [creeping juniper] (Fretz, 1976), although it has been reported to increase total oil yield in thyme [Thymus vulgaris] (Baranauskienne et al., 2003). However, studies on agronomic factors such as application of potassium humate and irrigation intervals as well as nitrogen fertilization on yield and essential oils of oregano have not been investigated thoroughly until now. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of nitrogen fertilization, application of potassium humate and irrigation intervals on the fresh herb yield and essential oil content and their main constituents of Origanum vulgare L.
MATERIALS AND METHODS The experiment was carried out under the natural conditions of the greenhouse of the National Research Center, Dokki, Giza, Egypt, during the two seasons of 2006 and 2007. Seeds of oregano were obtained from Jellitto Standensamen Gmbh, Schwarmstedt, Germany and were seeded in the nursery on 15th November 2005 and 2006. The seedlings were transplanted into pots 30 cm diameter, on the 15th February of each season. Each pot contained three seedlings and was placed in full sun light. Each pot was filled with 10 kg of air dried soil. The soil related to the typic torrifluvents. The physical and chemical analyses of the soil were determined according to Jackson 1973. The soil texture was sandy loam, having a physical composition as follows: 44.50% sand, 28.80% silt, 26.70% clay, and 0.85% organic matter. The results of soil chemical analysis were as follows: pH= 8.25; E.C (mmohs/cm) = 0.87; and total nitrogen =0.11 %; available phosphorus =2.33 mg/100gram; potassium= 0.019 mg/100gram. The experimental layout was factorial in a complete randomized design (CRD), with three replications. Each replication contained seven pots, while the pot contained three plants. Ammonium sulphate (20.50%) was applied at the rate of 0.0 (N0), 0.6 (N1) and 1.2 (N2) g N pot -1 as a top dressing application and divided into two equal portions. The first portion was added one month after transplanting, and the second N addition, was added five months after transplanting. Then, after the first N addition, irrigation intervals (3, 5 and 7 days), one litre of water was applied per one pot. The potassium humate used in this study is
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Journal of Applied Sciences 2(3), 2009
produced in China having a physical data as follows: appearance (black powders), pH (9-10), and water solubility (> 98%). The guarateed analysis were as follows: humic acid (80%), potassium (K2O) (10-12%), and zinc, iron, manganese, etc., (100 ppm). Plants were sprayed with twice freshly prepared solution of potassium humate (1 %), in addition to the untreated plants (control) which were sprayed with tap water. The plants treated with K-humate two times of 75 and 180 days from transplanting, respectively in both seasons. Plant fresh weight (g plant -1) of each replicate was determined in the first and second cuts after 105 and 210 days from transplanting, respectively. The essential oil percentage was determined in the fresh herb of each replicate. To extract and quantify the essential oils, a weight of 100 g of fresh herb, during two cuts in both seasons was separately subjected to hydro-distillation for 3 hours using a modified Clevenger apparatus according to Gunther (1961). Essential oil percentage of each replicate was determined and expressed as (%), while essential oil yield per plant was expressed as ml plant -1. The essential oils of each treatment were collected and dehydrated over anhydrous sodium sulphate and kept in a refrigerator until gas-liquid chromatography (GLC) analyses. The GLC analysis of the oil samples was carried out in the second season using a Hewlett Packard gas chromatograph apparatus at the Central Laboratory of the National Research Center (NRC) with the following specifications: instruments: Hewlett Packard 6890 series, column; HP (Carbwax 20M, 25m length x 0.32mm I.D), film thickness: 0.3mm, sample size: 1µl, oven temperature: 60-190°C, Program temperature: 60°C/2min, 8°C/min, 190°C/25min, injection port temperature:240°C, carrier gas: nitrogen, detector temperature (FID): 280°C, flow rate: N 2 3ml/min., H2 3ml/min., air 300ml/min. Main compounds of the essential oil were identified by matching their retention times with those of the authentic samples that were injected under the same conditions. The relative percentage of each compound was calculated from the peak area corresponding to each compound. Except for the constituents of the essential oils, the data in the present study were analyzed with the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) with three replications according to Snedcor and Cochran (1981). Duncan's multiple range test were used to compare between the means of treatments according to Waller and Duncan (1969) at probability 5 %.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS Herb fresh weight: Data presented in Table (1) indicated that nitrogen fertilization, potassium-humate and/or irrigation intervals affected plant fresh weight in both cuts of both seasons. Increasing the period of irrigation increased plant fresh weight. The highest mean values due to irrigation treatments were recorded with plants that received the highest amounts of water (irrigated every 3 days). The pronounced effect of increased irrigation on fresh herb yield may be attributed to the availability of sufficient moisture around the root concentrated and thus a greater proliferation of root biomass resulting in the higher absorption of nutrients and water leading to production of higher vegetative biomass (Singh et al., 1997). It was found that increasing levels of water stress reduce growth and yield due to reduction in photosynthesis and plant biomass. Under increasing water- stress levels photosynthesis was limited by low Co2 availability due to reduced stomatal and mesophyll conductance. Drought stress iassociated with stomatal closure and thereby with decreased CO2 fixation. However, the effect of irrigation repeated in every 4 days seemed to be optimal and produced the highest production of fresh biomass (Srivastava, and Srivastava, 2007). The superiority of the plants that received the highest rate of irrigation treatments in producing the heaviest total plant fresh weight was in agreement with that of Thabet et al. (1994); Mahmoud (2002); El-Naggar et al. (2004); Moeini Alishah et al. (2006) and Aziz et al. (2008). Increasing nitrogen doses increased plant fresh weight at all doses in the two cuts in both seasons. These doses had increased plant fresh weight compared to the control treatment. The stimulation effects of applying nitrogen on vegetative growth may be attributed to the well known functions of nitrogen in plant life, as described in the Introduction. Moreover, nitrogen is involved in many organic compounds of the plant system. A sufficient supply of various nitrogenous compounds is, therefore, required in each plant cell for its proper functioning. Generally, the enhancing effect of N-fertilization on plant growth may be due to the positive effects of nitrogen on activation of photosynthesis and metabolic processes of organic compounds in plants which, in turn, encourage plant vegetative growth. The increase in the fresh herbage yield with nitrogen fertilization is in agreement with results reported were recorded by Agamy (2004);
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Journal of Applied Sciences 2(3), 2009
Said-Al Ahl (2005); Mauyo et al. (2008). The results in Table (1) show that plant growth is a function of nutrients supply providing, there were clear significantly positive trend in increasing herb fresh yield by spraying of potassium humate. Similar results were reported by Zaghloul et al. (2009) they indicated that spraying Thuja orientalis plants with humic acid increased growth compared with control plants due to the direct effect of humic acid on solubilization and transport of nutrients. These results are in accordance with those obtained by Norman et al (2004) on marigolds and peppers and number of fruits of strawberries. Chen and Avaid (1990) added that humic substances have a very pronounced influence on the growth of plant roots and enhance root initiation and increased root growth which known root stimulator. Humic acid improve growth of plant foliage and roots. Vaughan (1974) proposed that humic acids may primarily increase root growth by increasing cell elongation or root cell membrane permeability, therefore increased water uptake by increased plant roots, and added that it can produce root systems with increased branching and number of fine roots, as a result potentially increase nutrients uptake by increase root surface area (Rauthan and Schnitzer, 1981). The interaction effect was significant in both cuts of both seasons. The highest values of plant fresh weight were produced from the treatment irrigated every 3 days and sprayed with 1% potassium-humate, followed by the treatment irrigated every 3 days and sprayed with 1% potassium-humate and fertilized with 1.2 g N pot -1 at the two cuts in both seasons. Essential oil production: In both cuts in both seasons, irrigation intervals, potassium-humate, nitrogen application and their interaction affected the percentage of essential oils in oregano (Table 1). The mean values of essential oils due to irrigation intervals treatments showed that increasing the period of irrigation from 7 to 5 days increased essential the percentage of oils. Increasing the period of irrigation from 3 to 5 days increased percentage of essential oils. In other words, the irrigation of oregano plants every 5 days accelerated the production of essential oils, while the severe stress conditions due to irrigated every 7 days decreased the biosynthesis of the essential oils. Similar results were recorded by Singh et al. (1997) and Fatima et al. (2000). The mean values of essential oils due to nitrogen application at 0.6 g N pot -1 and 1.2 g N pot -1 increased in both cuts of both seasons. Nitrogen fertilization might enhance the essential oil biosynthesis processes through its direct or indirect role in plant metabolism resulting in more plant metabolites. These finding are in agreement with those of Omer (1998) and Omer et al. (2008), who said that nitrogen fertilizer was effective in increasing essential oil of Origanum syriacum and Ocimum americanum, respectively. Essential oil percent in oregano fresh herb were significantly affected as a result of foliar application with K-humate (Table 1). Zaghloul et al. (2009) reported that humate application lead to increase oil content in Thuja orientalis. From the above mentioned results, it could be concluded that foliar application of Khumate promoted growth and possessed the best oil percentage in oregano plant. Generally, the maximum essential oil content was observed in the fresh herb of plants that irrigated every 5 days and sprayed with 1% K-humate and fertilized with 1.2 g N pot -1 in the two cuts. The oil yield of oregano (ml plant -1) was affected by irrigation intervals, potassium humate and/or nitrogen fertilization in both cuts of both seasons. Decreasing the period of irrigation from 7 to 5 days increased oil yield in both cuts of both seasons. Increasing irrigation intervals from 3 to 5 days increased oil yield in both cuts of both seasons. Moisture stress also decreased fresh herb yield, so there was a decrease in oil yield with an increase in moisture stress. These findings agree with those of Singh and Ramesh (2000) and Zehtab- Salmasi et al. (2001). They found that water deficit decreased the oil yield of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) and anise (Pimpinella anisum L.), respectively. Increasing nitrogen doses resulted in gradual and significant increase in essential oil yield in both cuts of both seasons. The higher the amount of the nitrogen, the higher was the oil yield. The response of volatile oil content to nitrogen fertilization might be attributed to de novo meristemic cell metabolism in building dry matter with essential oil production. These results agree with those of Omer (1998) and Omer et al. (2008), who found a positive correlation between nitrogen fertilizer and essential oil content in herbage of Origanum syriacum and Ocimum americanum, respectively in all cuttings. In addition, spraying oregano plants with K-humate caused an increase in the essential oil yield (Table 1). Generally, the highest essential oil yield (ml plant -1) was obtained from plants irrigated every 5 days and fertilized with 1.2 g N pot -1 and sprayed at 1% Khumate in both cuts of both seasons.
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Journal of Applied Sciences 2(3), 2009
Chemical composition of essential oil: To study the effect of irrigation intervals, K-humate and/or nitrogen fertilization on the main constituents of the essential oil, the oil of each treatment was separately subjected to gas liquid chromatography and the main compounds and their relative percentages are shown in (Table 2). Carvacrol, a phenolic compound, was found to be the first major compound and ranged from 61.65 to 73.61%. Its maximum content was observed in the essential oil of the herb that received 0.6 g N pot -1 with sprayed at 1% K-humate and irrigated every 5 days in the second cut, while the minimum content was recorded with plants that received 1.2 g N pot -1 with sprayed at 1% K-humate and irrigated every 3 days. The second main compound was identified as the monoterpine, P-cymene, which ranged from its maximum content (18.27%) with irrigated every 3 days and received 1.2 g N pot -1 and sprayed at 1% K-humate in the second cut to its minimum relative percent (6.80%) with irrigated every 5 days and fertilized at 0.6 g N pot -1 with sprayed at 1% Khumate in the first cut. Generally, the main differences were observed with the two phenolic compounds carvacrole and thymol, and their hydrocarponic precursor's terpinene and p-cymene. The phenolic compounds increase in hot seasons at the expense of their preceding precursors. In other words, the relative percentage of carvacrol was higher in the second cut than in the first cut. This may be attributed to the effect of the environmental factors especially non-edaphic factors, since these plants grew in summer months under high temperatures and received more solar energy than those grown in the spring summers. These conditions accelerate the transformation of terpinene and p-cymene to phenolic compounds. These findings agree with those of Omer (1998) on Origanum syriacum and Omer et al. (1994) on marjoram. In this respect, Picacaglia and Marotti (1993) reported that during their two–year study differences in relative amounts of thymol, carvacrol, γ–terpinene, and p-cymene, essential oils of Satureja montana which is grown in Italy, could be attributed to the effects of environmental conditions.
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Journal of Applied Sciences 2(3), 2009
Table 1. Effect of potassium humate and /or nitrogen fertilizer under different irrigation intervals on herb and essential oil of Origanum vulgare L. plant in 2006/2007 and 2007/2008 seasons. Fresh weight g plant -1
Essential oil yield (plant -1)
Essential oil %
Treatments
First cut Season 1
Season 2
Season 1
Season 2
Season 1
Season 2
I-3
8.90
a
±
2.187
8.72
a
±
2.173
0.59
b
±
0.049
0.59
b
±
0.051
0.05
b
±
0.016
0.05
b
±
0.017
I-5
8.20
b
±
2.140
8.35
b
±
2.263
0.66
a
±
0.084
0.66
a
±
0.074
0.06
a
±
0.020
0.06
a
±
0.020
I-7
5.97
c
±
1.461
5.90
c
±
1.498
0.58
b
±
0.075
0.57
c
±
0.083
0.04
c
±
0.012
0.04
c
±
0.013
LSD at 0.05
0.1585
0.1466
0.0257
0.0211
0.0025
0.0026
N0
5.03
e
±
0.825
5.00
e
±
0.874
0.51
d
±
0.058
0.51
e
±
0.068
0.03
e
±
0.005
0.03
e
±
0.005
N1
5.98
d
±
1.082
5.94
d
±
1.115
0.57
c
±
0.043
0.56
d
±
0.042
0.04
d
±
0.007
0.03
d
±
0.010
N2
6.67
c
±
1.105
6.45
c
±
1.024
0.59
c
±
0.046
0.60
c
±
0.050
0.04
c
±
0.009
0.04
c
±
0.009
H
9.73
a
±
1.614
9.69
a
±
1.647
0.64
b
±
0.060
0.64
b
±
0.049
0.06
a
±
0.012
0.06
ab
±
0.013
N 1 +H
9.17
b
±
1.712
9.32
b
±
1.743
0.66
ab
±
0.049
0.66
ab
±
0.060
0.06
b
±
0.015
0.06
b
±
0.015
N2+H
9.55
a
±
1.698
9.55
a
±
1.662
0.68
a
±
0.057
0.68
a
±
0.043
0.07
a
±
0.013
0.07
a
±
0.013
LSD at 0.05
0.2242
0.2073
0.0363
0.0298
0.0035
0.0036
I-3 x N0
5.89
i
±
0.157
5.90
h
±
0.100
0.53
±
0.029
0.53
±
0.058
0.03
e
±
0.000
0.03
g
±
0.000
I-3 x N 1
6.94
g
±
0.140
6.88
f
±
0.104
0.55
±
0.000
0.57
±
0.029
0.04
d
±
0.000
0.04
f
±
0.000
I-3 x N 2
7.75
e
±
0.195
7.15
def
±
0.132
0.58
±
0.029
0.58
±
0.029
0.05
c
±
0.006
0.04
f
±
0.000
I-3 x H
11.10
a
±
0.354
10.89
a
±
0.032
0.60
±
0.050
0.60
±
0.000
0.07
b
±
0.006
0.07
b
±
0.000
I-3 x N 1 +H
10.72
ab
±
0.135
10.67
ab
±
0.155
0.63
±
0.029
0.62
±
0.029
0.07
b
±
0.006
0.06
c
±
0.006
I-3 x N 2 +H
10.99
a
±
0.515
10.82
ab
±
0.076
0.65
±
0.000
0.67
±
0.029
0.07
b
±
0.000
0.07
ab
±
0.006
I-5 x N0
5.20
j
±
0.093
5.19
i
±
0.106
0.53
±
0.058
0.55
±
0.050
0.03
e
±
0.000
0.03
g
±
0.000
I-5x N 1
6.42
h
±
0.070
6.44
g
±
0.110
0.60
±
0.050
0.60
±
0.000
0.04
d
±
0.000
0.04
f
±
0.000
I-5 x N 2
6.99
fg
±
0.036
7.10
ef
±
0.179
0.63
±
0.029
0.65
±
0.000
0.05
c
±
0.006
0.05
d
±
0.000
10.44
bc
±
0.445
10.67
ab
±
0.289
0.70
±
0.050
0.70
±
0.000
0.08
a
±
0.006
0.07
ab
±
0.006
I-5 x N 1 +H
9.84
d
±
0.151
10.26
c
±
0.405
0.72
±
0.029
0.73
±
0.029
0.07
b
±
0.000
0.08
a
±
0.006
I-5 x N 2 +H
10.30
c
±
0.263
10.47
bc
±
0.451
0.75
±
0.000
0.73
±
0.029
0.08
a
±
0.000
0.08
a
±
0.006
I-7x N0
4.02
l
±
0.067
3.92
k
±
0.104
0.45
±
0.050
0.43
±
0.029
0.02
f
±
0.000
0.02
h
±
0.000
I-7x N 1
4.58
k
±
0.181
4.51
j
±
0.400
0.55
±
0.050
0.52
±
0.029
0.03
e
±
0.006
0.02
h
±
0.000
I-7 x N 2
5.27
j
±
0.061
5.09
i
±
0.086
0.57
±
0.058
0.57
±
0.058
0.03
e
±
0.000
0.03
g
±
0.000
I-7 x H
7.65
e
±
0.150
7.50
d
±
0.095
0.62
±
0.029
0.62
±
0.029
0.05
c
±
0.000
0.05
de
±
0.006
I-7 x N 1 +H
6.95
g
±
0.138
7.03
ef
±
0.252
0.63
±
0.029
0.63
±
0.029
0.04
d
±
0.000
0.04
ef
±
0.006
I-7 x N 2 +H
7.37
ef
±
0.321
7.37
de
±
0.126
0.63
±
0.029
0.65
±
0.000
0.05
c
±
0.000
0.05
d
±
0.000
I-5 x H
LSD at 0.05
0.3884
0.3590
N.S
N.S
0.0060
Means with different letters within each column are significant at 0.05 level and means in the same column with the same letters are not significant. Mean ±Sd; Since: N = nitrogen fertilizer, i. e. N0 = control, N1 = 0.6 g pot -1, N2 = 1.2 g pot -1; I = Irrigation Intervals, i. e. I-3; I-5, I-7 = irrigation every 3, 5 and 7 days; H= potassium humate
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0.0064
Journal of Applied Sciences 2(3), 2009
Table 2. Effect of potassium humate and /or nitrogen fertilizer under different irrigation intervals on herb and essential oil of Origanum vulgare L. plant in 2006/2007 and 2007/2008 seasons. Fresh weight g plant -1
Essential oil yield (plant -1)
Essential oil %
Treatments
Second cut Season 1
Season 2
Season 1
Season 2
Season 1
Season 2
I-3
10.39
a
±
2.506
10.46
a
±
2.505
0.57
b
±
0.039
0.57
b
±
0.046
0.06
a
±
0.017
0.06
a
±
0.019
I-5
9.88
b
±
2.392
9.66
b
±
2.510
0.60
a
±
0.068
0.60
a
±
0.071
0.06
a
±
0.021
0.06
a
±
0.021
I-7
7.25
c
±
1.849
7.32
c
±
1.854
0.54
c
±
0.066
0.54
c
±
0.054
0.04
b
±
0.013
0.04
b
±
0.012
N0
6.01
d
±
0.986
5.81
e
±
0.993
0.49
d
±
0.049
0.50
d
±
0.050
0.03
d
±
0.009
0.03
c
±
0.007
N1
7.25
c
±
1.637
7.33
d
±
1.465
0.53
c
±
0.026
0.54
c
±
0.042
0.04
c
±
0.009
0.04
b
±
0.009
N2
8.01
b
±
0.877
7.97
c
±
0.894
0.56
b
±
0.049
0.55
c
±
0.043
0.05
b
±
0.007
0.04
b
±
0.007
H
11.30
a
±
1.782
11.36
a
±
1.752
0.61
a
±
0.046
0.59
b
±
0.042
0.07
a
±
0.015
0.07
a
±
0.015
N 1 +H
11.16
a
±
1.830
11.13
b
±
1.730
0.61
a
±
0.042
0.61
ab
±
0.053
0.07
a
±
0.013
0.07
a
±
0.014
N2+H
11.29
a
±
1.772
11.28
ab
±
1.773
0.63
a
±
0.036
0.63
a
±
0.043
0.07
a
±
0.016
0.07
a
±
0.015
LSD at 0.05
0.1827
LSD at 0.05
0.1600
0.2583
0.0195
0.2262
0.0247
0.0276
0.0025
0.0349
0.0036
0.0036
0.0050
I-3 x N0
6.78
e
±
0.293
6.81
f
±
0.137
0.53
±
0.029
0.53
±
0.058
0.04
fg
±
0.000
0.03
d
±
0.006
I-3 x N 1
8.55
cd
±
0.150
8.64
d
±
0.456
0.53
±
0.029
0.55
±
0.050
0.05
de
±
0.006
0.05
b
±
0.006
I-3 x N 2
8.82
c
±
0.266
8.95
cd
±
0.050
0.57
±
0.029
0.55
±
0.050
0.05
cd
±
0.000
0.05
b
±
0.000
I-3 x H
12.78
a
±
0.247
12.85
a
±
0.218
0.60
±
0.000
0.60
±
0.000
0.08
a
±
0.000
0.08
a
±
0.000
I-3 x N 1 +H
12.64
a
±
0.456
12.70
a
±
0.267
0.58
±
0.029
0.58
±
0.029
0.07
b
±
0.006
0.08
a
±
0.006
I-3 x N 2 +H
12.75
a
±
0.259
12.83
a
±
0.208
0.62
±
0.029
0.62
±
0.029
0.08
a
±
0.000
0.08
a
±
0.000
I-5 x N0
6.49
e
±
0.452
6.02
g
±
0.126
0.50
±
0.000
0.50
±
0.000
0.03
hi
±
0.006
0.03
d
±
0.000
I-5x N 1
8.12
d
±
0.125
7.87
e
±
0.231
0.55
±
0.000
0.55
±
0.050
0.04
ef
±
0.006
0.04
bc
±
0.006
8.32
d
±
0.186
8.06
e
±
0.110
0.60
±
0.050
0.58
±
0.029
0.05
cd
±
0.000
0.05
b
±
0.006
I-5 x H
12.15
b
±
0.327
12.17
b
±
0.289
0.65
±
0.050
0.62
±
0.029
0.08
a
±
0.000
0.08
a
±
0.006
I-5 x N 1 +H
12.05
b
±
0.333
11.80
b
±
0.265
0.65
±
0.000
0.67
±
0.029
0.08
a
±
0.000
0.08
a
±
0.006
I-5 x N 2 +H
12.14
b
±
0.356
12.04
b
±
0.063
0.67
±
0.029
0.68
±
0.029
0.08
a
±
0.006
0.08
a
±
0.000
I-7x N0
4.77
f
±
0.211
4.61
i
±
0.433
0.43
±
0.029
0.47
±
0.058
0.02
j
±
0.000
0.02
e
±
0.000
I-7x N 1
5.09
f
±
0.078
5.47
h
±
0.405
0.50
±
0.000
0.52
±
0.029
0.03
i
±
0.000
0.03
d
±
0.000
I-7 x N 2
6.90
e
±
0.095
6.90
f
±
0.100
0.52
±
0.029
0.52
±
0.029
0.04
gh
±
0.006
0.04
cd
±
0.006
I-7 x H
8.97
c
±
0.052
9.07
c
±
0.064
0.57
±
0.029
0.55
±
0.050
0.05
cd
±
0.000
0.05
b
±
0.000
I-7 x N 1 +H
8.78
c
±
0.338
8.90
cd
±
0.100
0.60
±
0.050
0.57
±
0.029
0.05
c
±
0.006
0.05
b
±
0.000
I-7 x N 2 +H
8.97
c
±
0.152
8.96
cd
±
0.064
0.60
±
0.000
0.60
±
0.000
0.05
cd
±
0.000
0.05
b
±
0.000
I-5 x N 2
LSD at 0.05
0.4474
0.3919
N.S
N.S
0.0062
Means with different letters within each column are significant at 0.05 level and means in the same column with the same letters are not significant. Mean ±Sd; Since: N = nitrogen fertilizer, i. e. N0 = control, N1 = 0.6 g pot -1, N2 = 1.2 g pot -1; I = Irrigation Intervals, i. e. I-3; I-5, I-7 = irrigation every 3, 5 and 7 days; H= potassium humate
319
0.0087
Journal of Applied Sciences 2(3), 2009
Table 3. Effect of potassium humate and /or nitrogen fertilizer under irrigation intervals on the constituents of Origanum vulgare L.in the second season. 1st Cut
2nd Cut
Treatments
Compounds T1
T2
T3
T1
T2
T3
pinene
--
--
--
--
--
--
pinene
--
---
0.67
--
--
--
--
--
--
0.41
0.20
0.22
P-cymene
11.74
6.80
13.81
11.31
11.79
18.28
limonene
1.19
2.86
0.40
0.20
1.31
--
γ- terpinene
7.60
12.81
8.74
10.28
2.64
5.07
linalool
0.25
0.17
0.34
0.17
--
0.19
terpinene
borneol Terpinene-4ol
--
0.11
0.42
0.20
--
0.16
0.93
0.19
0.51
0.27
0.18
0.18
terpineol
0.45
0.29
0.46
0.12
0.22
0.36
thymol
1.05
1.30
0.57
1.27
1.00
0.44
Bornyl acetate
0.25
0.61
0.34
--
0.34
0.27
carvacrol Carvacrol acetate elemene
69.07
65.26
68.25
65.35
73.61
61.65
0.18
0.16
0.64
0.89
0.20
0.21
0.18
0.18
0.56
0.14
0.24
0.13
0.53
0.54
0.41
0.11
0.49
0.12
caryophyllene
0.19 0.12 0.45 germacrene D 0.23 0.27 0.21 Identified 93.61 91.40 95.57 90.95 92.49 87.39 compounds Unidentified 6.39 8.60 4.43 9.05 7.51 12.61 compounds T1–irrigation every 7 days +potassium humate, T2– 0.6 gNpot-1 +potassium humate+ irrigation every 5 days, T3– 1.2 gNpot-1+ irrigation every 3 days + potassium humate CONCLUSIONS Nitrogen fertilizer increase herb fresh yield and essential oil production under well-watered conditions at 80% available soil moisture, also under moderate-watered conditions at 60% available soil moisture and under water deficit conditions at 40% available soil moisture. Increasing irrigation levels increased the production of oregano and the optimum irrigation levels for the highest yields of fresh herb and essential oil was 80% available soil moisture. Supplying plants with a water level of 80% available soil moisture and with 1.2 g N pot -1 (I-80%+ N3) gave the best result in case of herb fresh yield and essential oil production.
320
Journal of Applied Sciences 2(3), 2009
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