Authors
1 M.Sc. student, Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
2 Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
3 Department of Water Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
Abstract
In order to study the effects of different irrigation regimes and mulch types on growth parameters and essential oil content of peppermint (Mentha piperita L.), this experiment was performed in research field of Agricultural College of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad during 2010. The experimental design was factorial in a randomized complete blocks design with four replications. Treatments included three irrigation levels (100, 80 and 60 percent of water requirements calculated by evaporation pan class A) and two mulch types (black plastic and wood chips) in comparison to control. Results showed that the effect of irrigation on fresh weight, dry weight, leaf relative water content, leaf area and essential oil yield was significant (p< 0.05). The effect of mulch on fresh weight, dry weight, leaf area, inter-node distance, number of branch and essential oil yield was significant (p< 0.05). Interaction between irrigation and mulch on inter-node distance, fresh weight, dry weight and leaf area was significant (p< 0.05). This study showed the highest dry weight yield per plant (38.35 g) and the highest essential oil yield (82.83 L.ha-1) on the first level of irrigation with the use of wood chips mulch. Also, there was no significant difference between the first level of irrigation and mulch wood chips with the third level of irrigation and mulch wood chips. The lowest dry matter yield (14.87 g) and the lowest essential oil yield (29.57 L.ha-1) were obtained at third level of irrigation and without mulch. In addition, wood chips was identified as the best treatment to reduce the stress caused by deficit irrigation. In conclusion, results showed that the use of wood chips as mulch and 60 % of irrigation water requirement resulted to the highest water productivity in Peppermint production.
Keywords
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