Chamomile and Anise Cultivation in Olive Agroforestry Systems

Georgios I. Katsoulis,Eirini Anastasaki,Athanassios C. Kimbaris,Apostolos P. Kyriazopoulos,Christos A. Damalas

doi:10.3390/f13010128

Georgios I. Katsoulis, Eirini Anastasaki + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/f13010128

Copy DOI

Abstract

Agroforestry systems have been practiced for hundreds of years with multiple benefits both environmentally and economically in terms of productivity. Olive cultivation is widespread in the countries of the Mediterranean basin, including Greece. Agroforestry practices are common in olive groves, but little research has been conducted on the productivity of such systems, especially with medicinal–aromatic plants (MAPs) as understory crops. Natural populations of MAPs can be found in various ecosystems, while some of them are cultivated. The purpose of this research was to study the effects of fertilization and shading both on yield and chemical composition of essential oils derived from chamomile (Matricaria recutita L.) and anise (Pimpinella anisum L.), grown in olive silvoarable systems. Fertilization and shading increased the plant height of chamomile and delayed the flowering. In addition, fertilization increased the concentration of α-bisabolol oxide A and (Z)–spiroether, and reduced the α-bisabolone oxide A and hamazulen. Shade also reduced α-bisabolone oxide A and hamazulen but increased the α-bisabolol oxide B. In the case of anise, fertilization increased plant height, decreased the concentration of limonene, and increased the concentration of E-anethole. Shading reduced plant height. Intercropping of olive trees with chamomile and anise yielded essential oils rich in the substances defined by the commercial specifications.

Highlights

The interest in silvoarable agroforestry systems has significantly increased in recent years because these systems are sustainable in terms of productivity and more environmentally friendly
The increased plant height with fertilizer application in chamomile plants could be attributed to the nitrogen fertilization applied in the form of ammonia, which has been reported to result in better plant growth in terms of height [36,47], while potassium and sulfur may have played a positive role through promoting photosynthesis and plant metabolism
The essential oil yield of both species was not affected by shading, and it was of high quality, meeting the criteria of commercial specifications

Summary

Introduction

The interest in silvoarable agroforestry systems has significantly increased in recent years because these systems are sustainable in terms of productivity and more environmentally friendly. Common agroforestry systems are applied in olive groves or in other cultivated tree species such as oak (Quercus spp.), carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.), walnut (Juglanus regia L.), and almond (Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D.A.Webb) [9,10] with the cultivation of cereals, vegetables or legumes. Such systems can combine grazing of the understory by small ruminants usually following the sowing of forage crops. 124,300 hectares of the total area covered of olive groves estimated to 690,000 hectares [12] are co-cultivated or grazed in Greece [10]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion