The Effect of Phosphorus and Irrigation Treatments on the Essential Oil Content and Composition of Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium (L.) cv. Zardband)

Abstract

Field trials were carried out in a semi-arid climatic area in Iran in the years of 2004 and 2005 to determine the effect of phosphorus fertilizer and irrigation treatments on the essential oil content and composition of feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium L. cv. Zardband). Phosphorus fertilizer was band-placed at the rates of 0 (P0), 50 (P1), 100 (P2) and 150 (P3) Kg/ha at planting and irrigation treatments were applied at 10 (I1), 20 (I2) and 40 (I3) mm per week. The essential oil was obtained by hydro- distillation from the herb of the plant and then was analysed by using GC and GC-MS. According to the results phosphorus fertilizer and irrigation treatments had important role on the essential oil content and composition of feverfew. Application of phosphorus significantly increased the essential oil content and as well as camphor and chrysanthenyl-acetate. I1 P 3 (10 mm/week irrigation and 150kg/ ha P) treatment produced the highest amount of essential oil and camphor and I2 P3 (20 mm/week irrigation and 150kg/ha P) treatment produced the maximum amount of chrysanthenyl acetate. However, irrigation by itself did not change significantly the essential oil content and the main components.