Optimizing Nitrogen Fertilization to Maximize Yield and Bioactive Compounds in Ziziphora clinopodioides

Saeid Hazrati (), Zahra Mousavi, Saeed Mollaei, Mojde Sedaghat, Marzieh Mohammadi, Giuseppe Pignata and Silvana Nicola
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Saeid Hazrati: Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University, Tabriz 5375171379, Iran
Zahra Mousavi: Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University, Tabriz 5375171379, Iran
Saeed Mollaei: Phytochemical Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University, Tabriz 5375171379, Iran
Mojde Sedaghat: Department of Environmental and Plant Biology, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, USA
Marzieh Mohammadi: Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University, Tabriz 5375171379, Iran
Giuseppe Pignata: Department of Agricultural, Forest, and Food Sciences—DISAFA, Horticultural Sciences—INHORTOSANITAS, Vegetable Crops and Medicinal and Aromatic Plants—VEGMAP, University of Torino, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy
Silvana Nicola: Department of Agricultural, Forest, and Food Sciences—DISAFA, Horticultural Sciences—INHORTOSANITAS, Vegetable Crops and Medicinal and Aromatic Plants—VEGMAP, University of Torino, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy

Agriculture, 2024, vol. 14, issue 10, 1-21

Abstract: Ziziphora clinopodioides L. is a valuable medicinal and aromatic plant; however, its special requirements for proper growth and enhanced secondary metabolite composition have limited its production and availability. The lack of appropriate fertilizer dosage recommendations is one of these limiting factors for ex situ conservation and large-scale cultivation. This study investigated the effects of nitrogen (N) fertilization on Z. clinopodioides in both open field and unheated greenhouse conditions. The determined research factor was N dosage (0, 40, 80, and 120 kg N ha −1 in the field) and (0, 200, 400, and 600 mg N pot −1 in the greenhouse). It was found that Z. clinopodioides plants could grow successfully outside their natural habitat with sufficient N fertilization yielding a satisfactory amount of metabolites per plantation area. Specifically, among the tested dosages, the 120 kg N ha −1 (which showed no significant difference from 80 kg N ha −1 ) and 400 mg N pot −1 fertilizers increased the aboveground dry and fresh biomass, essential oil (EO) content, and yield. Nitrogen fertilization showed a direct correlation with menthone, neo-menthol, menthol, pulegone, E -ocimenone, and spathulenol, but a negative correlation with α-pinene, β-pinene, limonene, 1,8-cineol, trans -pulegol, and iso -menthone. This study is the first to evaluate the effects of N fertilization on the genus Ziziphora . The results indicate that utilizing N fertilizer at a moderate rate (80 kg N ha −1 in the field and 400 mg N pot −1 in the greenhouse) can improve the agronomic traits and EO of Z. clinopodioides .

Keywords: agronomic traits; kakuti; nutrient; essential oil; pulegone (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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