اثرات آبياري و تراكم بوته بر روي كارآيي مصرف آب در توليد اسانس بابونه آلماني (Matricaria chamomillaL.)

Effects of Irrigation and Plant Density on Water-Use Efficiency for Essential Oil Production in Matricaria chamomilla L.

A factorial experiment was carried out to assess the effects of irrigation and plant density on the percentage and yield of essential oil and water-use efficiency for essential oil production of German chamomile in the experimental field of Faculty of Agriculture of Urmia University2003 and 2004 growing season, the experiment design was randomised compelete blocks with three replications Irrigation was carried out in four levels (irrigation at 25, 50, 75 and 100 mm evaporation from evaporation pan class A) planting space of German chamomile cv. Bodegold fixed 30 cm inter-rows and 5 levels of plants intra-row spacing (5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 cm producing 66.67, 33.33, 22.22, 16.67 and 13.33 plants per meter square). Results showed that irrigation and plant density affected the yield of dried flowers, percent and yield of essential oil of chamomile and water-use efficiency, significantly. The highest yield of dried flower, percentage of essential oil, yield of essential oil and water-use efficiency were obtained from irrigation after 50 mm evaporation from evaporation pan intra-row spacing 10 cm. In conclusion, plant density 30x10 cm (33.33 plant per meter square) and the second level of irrigation regime (irrigation at 50 mm evaporation from evaporation pan class A produced maximum essential oil with maximum water-use efficiency which can be recommended, for urmia environment conditions and the areas with the similar climates.