Biomass production, yield and chemical composition of peppermint essential oil using different organic fertilizer sources

Andressa Giovannini Costa,Suzan Kelly Vilela Bertolucci,José Eduardo Brasil Pereira Pinto,Jorge Henrique Chagas,Elza Oliveira Ferraz

doi:10.1590/s1413-70542013000300002

Andressa Giovannini Costa, Suzan Kelly Vilela Bertolucci + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/s1413-70542013000300002

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Abstract

Mentha x piperita L. is an aromatic and medicinal species belonging to the family Lamiaceae that is popularly known as peppermint. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of organic fertilizer sources on the biomass production, yield and chemical composition of peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) essential oil. The experiment was conducted using a completely randomized design (CRD) with a 2 x 5 factorial scheme, two sources of manure (cattle and poultry), five doses (0, 3, 6, 9 and 12 kg m-2) and four replicates. Different doses of cattle and poultry manure significantly affected plant biomass production and the responses of other variables, including leaf area, leaf weight ratio, leaf area ratio, root:shoot ratio, yield and chemical composition. Organic fertilizer doses of 9.0 kg m-2 cattle manure and 8.3 kg m-2 poultry manure to obtain the maximum total dry biomass. The highest yield of essential oil was obtained by applying 11.8 kg m-2 poultry manure. Differences in the chemical composition of the essential oil were observed for only three components (menthone, pulegone and menthyl acetate) without significant changes in the menthol content.

Highlights

Mint is a plant that can become cultivated to a variety of climate and common name of approximately 30 perennial species of the genus Mentha (CHAGAS et al, 2011b)
Mentha x piperita L. a member of the family Lamiaceae is a rhizomatous aromatic and medicinal plant widely cultivated in many countries
Treatment with the different doses and sources of organic fertilizers resulted in the growth of a greater biomass of cultivated M. piperita

Summary

Introduction

Mint is a plant that can become cultivated to a variety of climate and common name of approximately 30 perennial species of the genus Mentha (CHAGAS et al, 2011b). Mentha x piperita L. a member of the family Lamiaceae is a rhizomatous aromatic and medicinal plant widely cultivated in many countries. It is popularly known as peppermint, mint or spearmint. Its essential oil is considered industrially important as it is used in pharmaceuticals, confectionery, alcoholic beverages, chewing gum, dental creams and cosmetics (SINGH et al, 2005). For these reasons and others, Mentha piperita oil ranks high in terms of total sales volume (MORAES, 2000). Its leaves are used in numerous therapeutic effects related to its spasmolytic, carminative, stomachic, antiemetic and anthelmintic properties (MCKAV; BLUMBERG, 2006)

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