A novel and economically viable agro-technique for enhancing productivity and resource use efficiency in menthol mint (Mentha arvensis L.)

Abstract

Menthol mint (Mentha arvensis L.) is an important essential oil-bearing plant of the family Lamiaceae. Essential oil obtained from the leaves used in aromatherapy, flavour, and pharmaceutical industries. Producing the maximum essential oil yield with minimum use of resources to minimise the cost of cultivation and cropping period is need of the hour. Hence, the field experiment on menthol mint crop was carried out in two consecutive years (2015–2016) at the research farm of CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow. This research aimed to optimize the planting method, planting time, and plant density to enhance productivity and resource use efficiency. The experiment consisted of three planting methods, three time of planting, and four plant densities was conducted in split plot design with three replicates. Maximum essential oil yield of 209.8 kg ha−1, the minimum crop maturity period of 131 days, and lower water requirement of 86 cm was found under ridge bed planting method from two harvest. The crop planted in the month of February gave maximum net profits of $ 2669 ha−1 as compared with the crop planted in March and April months. Crop planted on ridges grown in the month of February with plant density of 166,666 plants ha−1 was found best combination for obtaining maximum essential oil yield, bringing about 30 days earliness in crop maturity and reduction in water requirement. The crop planted on ridges yields maximum essential oil per unit area and time, and this led to enhancement in resource use efficiency with significant improvement in net profits. Further, it provides an opportunity to have two harvests with minimum damage to the crop by excessive moisture availability during the early onset of monsoon.