YIELDING AND QUALITY OF LAVENDER FLOWERS (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) FROM ORGANIC CULTIVATION

Abstract

In 2008–2010, in the field experiment, the yield and quality of lavender flowers in organic cultivation were tested. The experiment was established in four different locations in Poland. The following features were evaluated: fresh and dried flower yields, seed yield, weight of 1 000 kernels, essential oil content and its composition and microbiological contamination. Lavender flower yield from organic experiments was higher compared with the yield from conventional cultivation. The content of essential oil in organic lavender flowers was lower then that from conventional ones. The content of essential oil and its composition of lavender flowers did not depend on localization. The satisfied yield of lavender seeds was obtained in organic experiments. The investigated lavender raw materials were below the level of standard contamination for raw materials treated with hot water (A) according to European Pharmacopoeia 7.0.

Keywords

• lavender
• organic cultivation
• yield
• flowers
• quality
• essential oil