Abstract
In a field study, conducted at Lucknow ( 26.5 N, 80.5 E and 120 m altitude), India for two years (1996–1997 and 1997–1998),
eight treatment combinations of two variables of organic mulch (paddy straw at 7 t/ha and no mulch) and four levels of fertilizer
nitrogen (0, 80, 160 and 240 kg/ha) were examined to observe the effect of organic mulching on N-use efficiency and essential oil yield
in a multi-harvested geranium crop. Results revealed that application of paddy straw mulch increased the herb and essential oil
yields in geranium by 23% and 27%, respectively, over the unmulched control at planted crop harvest. Corresponding values at
regenerated crop harvest were 18.7% and 19.2%. A significant response to N was observed with 160 kg N/ha in mulched plot over the
same level of N in the unmulched plot. Using paddy straw mulch, nitrogen uptake by plants of planted and regenerated crops was
increased by 33% and 28.4%, respectively, over the unmulched control. Apparent N recoveries by planted and regenerated crops
were estimated to be 33.7% and 22.7% for the unmulched control, as against 40% and 29.2% with paddy straw mulch at 160 kg N/ha.
The quality of essential oil of geranium in terms of its major constituents, citronellol and geraniol, was not affected by the use of
organic mulching and nitrogen fertilization and these constituents were found to be of a standard acceptable in international trade.
It was concluded from this study that use of an organic mulch with 160 kg N/ha proved better in terms of economising 80 kg N/ha
to produce an economic yield of 96.1 kg geranium oil from two harvests under subtropical conditions of the north Indian plains. At
160 kg N/ha, paddy straw mulch application permitted the geranium crop to produce 18.4 kg/ha more oil which gave an additional
return of Rs. 53,600/ha than that of unmulched control. Paddy straw mulch and nitrogen fertilization had no adverse effect on the
quality of essential oil of geranium.
2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
AbstractIn a field study, conducted at Lucknow ( 26.5 N, 80.5 E and 120 m altitude), India for two years (1996–1997 and 1997–1998),eight treatment combinations of two variables of organic mulch (paddy straw at 7 t/ha and no mulch) and four levels of fertilizernitrogen (0, 80, 160 and 240 kg/ha) were examined to observe the effect of organic mulching on N-use efficiency and essential oil yieldin a multi-harvested geranium crop. Results revealed that application of paddy straw mulch increased the herb and essential oilyields in geranium by 23% and 27%, respectively, over the unmulched control at planted crop harvest. Corresponding values atregenerated crop harvest were 18.7% and 19.2%. A significant response to N was observed with 160 kg N/ha in mulched plot over thesame level of N in the unmulched plot. Using paddy straw mulch, nitrogen uptake by plants of planted and regenerated crops wasincreased by 33% and 28.4%, respectively, over the unmulched control. Apparent N recoveries by planted and regenerated cropswere estimated to be 33.7% and 22.7% for the unmulched control, as against 40% and 29.2% with paddy straw mulch at 160 kg N/ha.The quality of essential oil of geranium in terms of its major constituents, citronellol and geraniol, was not affected by the use oforganic mulching and nitrogen fertilization and these constituents were found to be of a standard acceptable in international trade.It was concluded from this study that use of an organic mulch with 160 kg N/ha proved better in terms of economising 80 kg N/hato produce an economic yield of 96.1 kg geranium oil from two harvests under subtropical conditions of the north Indian plains. At160 kg N/ha, paddy straw mulch application permitted the geranium crop to produce 18.4 kg/ha more oil which gave an additionalreturn of Rs. 53,600/ha than that of unmulched control. Paddy straw mulch and nitrogen fertilization had no adverse effect on thequality of essential oil of geranium. 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
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