Journal of Agricultural Science and Sustainable Production (Jan 2015)
The Effect of Place and Harvesting Stage on Quantitative and Qualitative Yields of Thymus caramanicus Jalas
Abstract
Thymus caramanicus is a fragrance and perennial medicinal plant of Iran. In order to comparison the quantitative and qualitative yields of this species in different places and times, an experiment was conductedin Ghahiz Daran and Shahid Fozveh stationsof Agricultural and Natural Resource Research Center of Isfahan as a randomized complete block design with 3 replications. Plants harvested at 4 stages including: 1) beginning of flowering, 2) mid of flowering, 3) full flowering and 4) fruit set. Results showed that harvesting stages, species and year had significant effects on aerial yield, essential oil yield and Thymol and Carvacrol yield. Also interaction of year with place, year and harvesting stage, place and harvesting stage were significant for these traits. The highest aerial yield (2767.7 kg/ha), essential oil yield (36.33 kg/ha) and Carvacrol yield (28.95 kg/ha) were observed at fruit set. Also the highest amount of essential oil percentage (1.57%) and Thymol yield (3.03 kg/ha) were produced in full flowering stage. Interaction between year× place× harvesting stage showed that the highest dry yield (3350 kg/ha) was obtained at fruit set stage of the first year in Ghahiz Daran station and about essential oil percentage (1.7%) at full flowering stage of the second year in Shahid Fozveh station. The highest Carvacrol yield and Thymol yield were observed at fruit set and full flowering stage of Ghahiz Daran respectively. Based on the results Thymus caramanicus didn’t have suitable compatibility in agronomy and different climatically conditions.
