Acta Scientiarum Polonorum: Hortorum Cultus (Jun 2008)
THE EFFECT OF NITROGEN FERTILIZATION ON YIELDING AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF LAVENDER (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.)
Abstract
The aim of the experiment conducted in 2003–2006 was to estimate the effect of dose of nitrogen on yielding and antioxidant activity of lavender. The experiment was established in one factorial design in four replications and plot area 3.0 m2. Nitrogen was supplied in three different rates: as a preplant dose 50 kg N·ha-1, or split application 100 (50 + 50) and 200 kg N·ha-1 (100 + 100) with one top dressing provided on first week of May. Results obtained from two years of the study indicate that the most suitable for lavender yielding appeared to be nitrogen fertilization at the rate of 100 kg N·ha-1. The results of the study also demonstrated that heavy nitrogen fertilization decreased concentration of phenolic compounds and have negligible effect on chlorophyll and carotenoids concentration in lavender flowers and increased content of phenolics, total carotenoids and chlorophyll a + b in leaves. The antioxidant activity of lavender flowers was higher in treatment fertilized with nitrogen in dose of 50 kg N·ha-1 and decreased at the rates of 100 and 200 kg N·ha-1.
