Response of cornmint (Mentha arvensis L. f. piperascens Malinv. ex Holmes) to micronutrients

Abstract

SummaryA field experiment was carried over two years (1999 and 2000) in the subtropical climate of north India in a mollisol, to study the response of cornmint (Mentha arvensis L. f. piperascens Malinv. ex Holmes, Lamiaceae) ‘Himalaya ’ to application of six micronutrients, namely, iron (Fe: 15, 30, 45 kg ha–1) manganese (Mn: 10, 20, 30 kg ha–1), zinc (5, 10, 15 kg ha–1), copper (Cu: 2, 4, 6 kg ha–1), boron (B: 1, 2, 3 kg ha–1) and molybdenum (Mo: 0.05, 0.10, 0.20 kg ha–1). Application of micronutrients significantly increased the essential oil yield of cornmint in comparison with the control. However, the response to individual applications of micronutrients was observed up to 15 kg Fe, 10 kg Mn, 10 kg Zn, 2 kg Cu, 2 kg B or 0.05 kg Mo ha–1. Beyond these levels, the essential oil yield variations among the doses within each trace element were not statistically significant. Of these rates of application, 2 kg B produced the maximum essential oil yield (116.5 kg ha–1). The percentage increases in the essential oil yield over the control were: 36.2 for 15 kg Fe, 47.3 for 10 kg Mn, 35.7 for 10 kg Zn, 23.9 for 2 kg Cu, 62.9 for 2 kg B and 33.4 for 0.05 kg Mo.