Influence of planting dates and distances on growth and essential oil productivity of rosmarinus officinalis L. plant [electronic resource].

Includes reference.

The aim of this work was to investigate the influence of planting date and distance on growth, essential oil content and composition of Rosmarinus officina/is L. plant, grown at the Experimental Station of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Fac. Agric., Mansoura Univ. during two successive seasons 20041 2005 and 2005/2006. The results showed significant differences in all investigated characteristics occurred between the four planting dates (February, March, October and November). three planting distances (40, 50 and 60 cm) and their interactions. The results showed that the tallest plants. highest yield of dried leaves and essential oil were obtained from February planting date compared with the other planting dates. The closer planting distance (40 cm) gave the tallest plants and heaviest dried leaves yield /fed. while increasing plant distance (50 to 60 cm) decreased plar,t height and yield. The wider space (60 em) increased the number of branches, fresh and dry weights of herb 1 plant. as well as produced highest essential oil percentage and content /plant compared with the closer spacing. Most of Ihe inleraction lreatments exhibiled significant effect on the all investigaled characlerislics. The early planting date (1st February) with the narrow planting distance (40 cm) gave the best results of plant height. dried leaves yield. but the wide spacing between plants resulted in maximum number of branches. heaviest fresh and dry weights of herb per plant. yield of dried leaves and essential oil. The relative percentage of the main essenlial oil conslituents (cineol.linalool and borneol) was greally variable in the invesligaled planting spaces in relation to the planting dales. Among various melrological data. temperature and day-length were the important faclors thai contributed to Ihe grealesl differences in essenlial oil percentage through more pholosynthesis. Spring cultivation (February & March) produced highest percenlage for essential oil in 1st cut, and in 2nd cut autumn cullivation (October and November) during both seasons. These results are very important for optimization the growing conditions for Rosmarinus officinalis L. plant under Mansoura conditions

Summary in Arabic.

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