Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

• M.R. Kodori ¹
• E. Sharifi Ashourabadi ²
• Gh.H. Rahmani ¹

¹ Kerman Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Kerman, Iran

² Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Tehran, Iran

Abstract

To investigate the effects of nutrition systems on the yield and some traits of Mentha piperita L., this experiment was carried out in the experimental field of Kerman Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center, during 2008 to 2010. A combined analysis of variance was performed using Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications by MSTATC statistical software and means were compared by Duncan test. The treatments were consisting of different levels of N, P and K (conventional system), mixture of different levels of NPK and manure (integrated system), different levels of manure (organic system) and control. The results showed that, the effect of nutrition systems on biological yield, economic yield, dry matter percentage, leaf length, leaf width, and plant height were significant. The yield increased with increasing the amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. The yield of Mentha piperita in the integrated system was higher than that of other systems. Maximum fresh weight yield (38313 kg/ha)  and maximum economic yield (5634 kg/ha ) were obtained in the first year from integrated system (120kg N, 90kg P, and 120kg K+5 tons manure per hectar). With increasing age of the plant, the fresh weight yield decreased to 15% and 63% in the second and third years, respectively. In the present experiment, the highest yield was obtained with application of 120 kg nitrogen, 90 kg phosphorus, 120 kg potassium, and 5 tons manure per hectare. The use of this plant in a plot of land more than three years will not be cost-effective.

Keywords

• Mentha piperita L
• soil fertilization systems
• year