Irrigation and organic fertilization on the production of essential oil and flavonoid in chamomile

Catariny C Aleman,Patricia A A Marques

doi:10.1590/1807-1929/agriambi.v20n12p1045-1050

Catariny C Aleman, Patricia A A Marques

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/1807-1929/agriambi.v20n12p1045-1050

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Abstract

ABSTRACT The therapeutic efficacy of herbal medicines and pesticides has increased the need to define cultivation parameters for medicinal plants. The objective of this study was to evaluate the production of essential oil and flavonoids of chamomile under irrigation levels and organic fertilizer doses. The experiment was conducted in the experimental area of the Campus II of the University of Western São Paulo, in the city of Presidente Prudente, SP, Brazil. The experimental design was a randomized block in triple factorial (6 x 2 x 3), corresponding to irrigation depths (150, 100, 75, 50, 25 and 0% of the reference evapotranspiration (ETo)), organic fertilizers (poultry manure and cattle manure) and the fertilizer doses (0, 3 and 5 kg m-2), with four replicates. The following variables were evaluated: capitulum dry matter, and content and yield of essential oil and flavonoids. For the tested conditions, it is recommended to use 5 kg m-2 poultry manure and water depth equivalent to 150% ETo for the production of essential oil and flavonoid.

Highlights

Chamomile is a medicinal and aromatic plant of great importance for the cosmetic and phytotherapeutic industry
Considering the need to define the adequate levels of irrigation and organic fertilization for the cultivation of medicinal plants, this study aimed to evaluate the influence of irrigation and organic fertilization on the production of flavonoids and essential oil in chamomile
The water deficit favored the effect of the irrigation depths on chamomile development (Figures 2, 3 and 4), directly interfering with the content of flavonoid and essential oil

Summary

Introduction

Chamomile is a medicinal and aromatic plant of great importance for the cosmetic and phytotherapeutic industry. It is the medicinal plant of greatest economic expression in the South region with cultivated area of 2,000 thousand ha in Paraná (Corrêa Júnior & Scheffer, 2014). The water balance is one way of managing irrigation, considering the processes of absorption, conduction and loss of water. The difference between the water absorbed and lost by the plant is a relevant factor for the metabolic processes of adjustment of the plant (Bilibio et al, 2010). In situations of water deficit, medicinal plants can activate the secondary metabolism and the osmotic adjustment. The plant tolerates the situation of lower water availability through the accumulation of amino acids that provide the plant with the capacity to maintain its cell expansion, performing stomatal and photosynthetic adjustments, favoring its growth (Taiz & Zeiger, 2013)

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