Effect of N fertilization on morphological, physiological, and essential oil content in oregano

Oregano (Origanum vulgare spp. hirtum) is an important aromatic and medicinal plant that is used worldwide because of its antimicrobial, antifungal, insecticidal, and antioxidative effects on human and animal health. Oregano is a crop species which is well adapted to dry land conditions. In addition, nitrogen (N), one of the most essential nutrients for oregano, is often applied to increase crop yield and improve product quality. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of Ν fertilization in oregano cultivation. Four treatments were tested (control, 50 kg N ha-1, 100 kg N ha-1 and 150 kg N ha-1) in an experiment conducted in Thessaloniki, Greece, during the growing season 2021 – 2022 in a field with clay loam soil. Several different characteristics were used to evaluate the effect of N fertilization in oregano. Nitrogen fertilization affected the Leaf Area Index (LAI) and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) index. There was an increase in chlorophyll content with N application and also an increase in plant height. These results show that N application can affect the growth and yield of oregano. This study provides some useful information about the effect of application of N fertilization on oregano production and secondary metabolites, thus increasing our knowledge about the effect of N on crop production. This information can be used for better N management which can be used for cost effective application of fertilizers, thereby leading to higher yield. However, the physiological basis of this effect remains unknown.

Publikationsverlauf

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
12. Dezember 2022