EFFECT OF SALINITY AND COMPOST LEVELS ON GROWTH, CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND OIL PRODUCTION OF ROSEMARY (Rosemarinus of ficinalis L.) PLANT

EFFECT OF SALINITY AND COMPOST LEVELS ON GROWTH, CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND OIL PRODUCTION OF ROSEMARY (Rosemarinus of ficinalis L.) PLANT

A.H. M. Kassem;  H. R. A. Mehasen and  F. R. Mousa

Department of Medicinal & Aromatic plants, A.R.C. ,Giza, Egypt.

ABSTRACT

   The pot experiment was conducted during2006/2007 and 2007/2008 seasons in Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Department at Dokky, Giza, Egypt, to investigate the effect of saline soil at the levels of (0, 1000, 3000 and 5000 ppm) and compost fertilization at the rates of 0, 0.5 and 1.0 kg/ pot (0, 5 and 10.0 ton/ fad.) on vegetative growth, chemical composition and oil yield production of rosemary plant.

   The results showed that increasing salinity levels reduced all vegetative growth, chemical composition and oil production, but application of compost reduced the harmful effects of saline and improvement the growth by increasing compost level.

Key words: Salinity, compost levels, growth, chemical composition, oil production of rosemary, Rosemarinus of ficinalis L

INTRODUCTION

            Rosemary, Rosemarinus officinalis L. is one of the important medicinal and aromatic plants. It used externally as parasitic, cicatrizing for muscular pain and rheumatism, dermatitis, dandruff and exzema. It promotes hair growth.

            Internally, it is used for asthma, bronchitis headache, rental flatulence (Lawless 1992) and it used for its volatile oil which is useful as anti-inflammatory activities, muscle contraction, reducing carcinogens and tumors (Chen and Ho, 1992).

            In Egypt, there are wide of saline areas, which cause harmful effects on plant growth and its production recently there is reasonable planning in Egypt to cultivate wide different water sources such as drainage water. In the last few decades, great interest has been pointed out to utilize the saline water for expansion in the new areas and for using during the period of water shortage.

            The harmful effect of salinity on medicinal, aromatic plants were mentioned by Ahmed et al. (2001) on damisissa and Attia (2003) on guar.

            Organic fertilization had drawn the attention of research workers and had become in the last few decades a positive alternative to chemical fertilizers. Organic fertilizers are reasonably safer to environment compared to chemical fertilizers.

            The organic fertilization application were increased plant growth, oil production and chemical composition on medicinal and aromatic plant were reported by various investigators as Edris et al. (2003) on sweet marjoram, Salim (2006) on Salvia officinalis and El-Sanafawy (2007) on Ocimum basilicum.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

            This study has been conducted in the Farm of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Department at Dokky, Giza, Egypt during two successive seasons (2006/ 2007 and 2007/ 2008).

            Terminal cuttings (15- 20 cm long) from Rosmarinus officinalis L. plants were used in this investigation. The cuttings were planted on 28^th January in both seasons in 40 cm diameter plastic pots.

            Pots were filled with dry Nile clay. The chemical composition of the soil before salinization is presented in Table 1, where extraction of the soil.

Table 1. Chemical analysis of the experimental soil before salinization

The salinity treatments were 0. 1000. 3000 and 5000 ppm as sodium chloride on dried soil.

            Three levels of compost was added to pots (0.0, 1.0 and 1.5 kg/ pot) (0.0, 10.0 and 15.0 ton/ fad.).

            The physical and chemical characteristics of compost were (moisture content 35.7% pH 7.8 total nitrogen 1.4%, organic substance 48.26%, organic carbon 17.18%, total phosphorus 0.471% and total potassium 0.802%).

            A split plot design with three replicates was used. The main plot was the different levels of compost, while the sub-plots were the different levels of salinity.

All data obtained were statically analyzed to the methods of Sendecor and cochran (1981).

The plants were cut 10 cm above the soil surface twice, the first one was on August 8^th and the second was on November 9^th, in both seasons.

The following data were recorded in the first and second cuts in both seasons:

A-    Vegetative growth/ plant:

1-      plant height (cm)

2-      Number of branches.

3-      Plant fresh and dry weights (g)

B-    Essential oil production:

1-      Essential oil percentage using the method of theBritish Pharmacopoeia (1963).

2-      Essential oil yield/ plant

C-    Chemical analysis:

1-      Chlorophyll a, b and carotenoids contents in the fresh leaves (mg/ g F.W) were determined in samples according toSaric et al. (1976).

2-      N, P and K percent in dry leaves were determined in the herb using the methods described by A.O.A.C (1970).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

1-     Effect of salinity and compost treatments on vegetative growth of rosemary:

1-1  . Plant height and number of branches:

The data in Table 2 showed that the plant height and number of branches/ plant of rosemary significantly increased by increasing compost level. The highest level of compost (1.5 kg/ pot) resulted in the highest length of plants and the maximum number of branches.

As for the effect of salinity, the results mentioned that the plant height and the number of branches/ plant were significantly increased due to the lower level of salinity (1000 ppm). Increasing the salinity level decreased the plant height and the level of 5000 ppm led to the shortest plants and decrease number of branches/ plant. Regarding the combination treatments between salinity and compost, the data point out that adding the various levels of compost resulted in a progressive effect in reducing the harmful effect of salinity.

Table 2.  Effect of salinity (Sa) and compost (Co) treatments on plant height (cm), and number of branches  of Rosmarinus officinalis L. plant at 2006/ 2007 and 2007/ 2008 seasons.

The highest level of compost (1.5 kg/ pot.) with the lower level of salinity (1000 ppm) led to the tallest plants and the greatest number of branches. The highest concentration of salinity (5000 ppm) without any compost caused the shortest plants and least number of branches/ plant.

These results were in agreement with those obtained by Ahmed et al. (2001) on damisissa

1-2- Herb fresh and dry weights:

The results in Table 3 cleared that the there was significant increased in herb fresh and dry weights per plant due to the lower level of salinity (1000 ppm).

Concerning compost treatments, the data indicated that there was a significant increase in herb fresh and dry weights by increasing the compost level.

The interaction between salinity and compost treatment show a significant effect and the best result was by using (1000 ppm salinity) and (1.5kg/ pot.).These results were in agreement with those obtained by Attia (2003) on guar and Shaalan (2005) on Borago officinalis.

Table 3. Effect of salinity(Sa) and compost (Co) treatments on fresh,  and dry weights (g)/ plant of Rosmarinus officinalis L.

2-      Pigments content:

The data on chlorophyll a, b and carotenoids contents (mg/g. fresh weight of leaves) are presented in Table 4 had a parallel trend to the other growth parameters in response to salinity and compost levels.

The low level of salinity (1000 ppm) increased chlorophyll a, b and carotenoids whereas the higher levels of salinity reduced chl. a, b and carotenoids during the two seasons.

These results are in agreement with the findings obtained by Shehata (1999) on Cupressus sempervirent.

Chlorophylls were markedly improved in the leaves of rosemary plants grown in soil containing compost.

The highest level of compost 3 ton/ fad, combined with the lower level of salinity 1000 ppm led to the highest concentration of pigments. Hammam (1996) on Pimpinella anisum reported similar results.

3-      Mineral status:

Data obtained on the effect of saline irrigation water on N, P and K percentage in herb of rosemary plants in Table 5 revealed that increasing water salinity levels led to decreased N, P and K content.

Table 4. Effect of salinity and compost treatments on Chlorophyll "a, b, and carotenoids " content (mg/g fresh weight) in leaves of Rosmarinus officinalis L. plant.

Table 5.  Effect of salinity and compost treatments on total nitrogen, phosphors and potassium  (%)/ in herb of Rosmarinus officinalis L. plant

Addition of compost to soil media could alter and reverse the effects of saline water on minerals content in rosemary herb, during both seasons.

The highest concentration of compost (1.5 kg/ pot.) without the salinity or (1000 ppm) caused the highest N, P and K percent on the plant.

These results agreed with those obtained by Attia (2003) on guar plants.

4-     Oil percentage and yield:

            Data in Table (6) revealed that oil percentage and yield of rosemary increased at the lower salinity levels. Increasing salinity levels significantly decreased both of oil percentage and oil yield/ plant (ml), the highest levels of salinity (5000 ppm) led to the greatest reduction.

Concerning the effect of compost on rosemary plant data in Table 6, pointed out compost significantly increased oil percentage and yield per plant (ml) in the both seasons. The present findings were in agreement with the finding ofEl-Sanafawy (2007) on Ocimum basilicum and Origanum majorana.

Table 6. Effect of salinity (Sa) and compost (Co) treatments on volatile oil percentage and yield of Rosmarinus officinalis L. plant

The results indicated that the organic manures may reduced the harmful effects of saline with increasing compost level causing an increase in plant growth parameters of rosemary plant expressed as plant height, number of branches/ plant, fresh and dry weights as well as oil yield and chemical composition. As an explanation, organic fertilization undoubtedly supplied the growing plants with the required micro and macronutrient elements. Naturally, these elements play important roles in the metabolic processes like photosynthesis, respiration and carbohydrate synthesis and enhance chlorophyll and carbohydrate content in these plants. Thus it was suggested that organic manures favors both the meristemic activity and extension of cells in the plant under study (Abou El-Seoud et al.1997, Kandeel et al. 2002).

Conclusively, Application of compost reduced the harmful effects of saline and improvement the growth by increasing compost level.

REFERENCES

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تأثیر الملوحة وبعض معدلات الکمبوست على النمو والمکونات الکیمیائیة وإنتاج الزیت فى نبات حصالبان

عبیر حمدى قاسم- حسام الدین رمضان محسن- فاتن رمزى موسى  

قسم بحوث النباتات الطبیة و العطریة-  مرکز البحوث الزراعیة- الجیزة- ج.م.ع.                                                                                               

      تم اجراء تجربة حقلیة لمدة موسمین متتالیین 2006/2007& 2007/ 2008 فى قسم بحوث النباتات الطبیة والعطریة بالدقى، (زرعت النباتات فى أصص بلاستیک) لمعرفة تأثیر مستویات مختلفة من ملوحة التربة (0، 1000، 3000 و50 جزء/ ملیون) والتسمید بالکمبوست بمعدلات 0، 0.5، 1کجم/ أصیص                   ( 0، 5،  10طن/ فدان) على النمو الخضری والترکیب الکیماوى وانتاجیة الزیت فی نبات حصالبان. وقد أظهرت النتائج ان زیادة معدلات الملوحة قد أدت إلى انخفاض معدلات النمو الخضری  والترکیب الکیماوی وإنتاج الزیت ولکن معاملات التسمید بالکمبوست قد خفضت التأثیرات الضارة للملوحة وأدت زیادة مستویات التسمید إلى تحسین النمو.