The effect of different nutrition systems on aerial parts and essential oil yield of Thymus daenensis Celak

In order to study the effects of different methods of soil fertilization on thyme (Thymus daenensis Celak), a research was carried out during 2007- 2010 in Research Center for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Esfahan. The experiment was laid out as a split plot in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The treatments were four fertilizing systems including NPK in three levels of N=100, P=50 and k=50, N=150, P=100 and k=100, N=200, P=150 and k=150 in conventional cropping systems, four levels of manure fertilizer (5, 15, 25 and 35 ton/ha) in organic method, and combination of chemical and manure fertilizers in four levels (N=80, P=64 and k=64 Kg/ha with 5 ton/ha manure fertilizer, N=60, P=48 and k=48 Kg/ha with 15 ton/ha manure fertilizer, N=40, P=32 and k=32 Kg/ha with 25 ton/ha manure fertilizer, N=20, P=16 and k=16 Kg/ha with 35 ton/ha manure fertilizer in intermediate nutrition management and control. Based on the results, shoot dry yield and oil yield in intermediate nutrition treatment were higher as compared to other treatments.Also the highest shoot dry yield and oil yield was obtained from the first harvesting stage. The first harvesting stage of intermediate nutrition treatment (combination of 35 ton/ha manure and NPK= 40- 32- 32 Kg/ha) in the second year, had the highest amount of shoot dry yield and oil yield (2597.78 and 81.63 kg/ha, respectively). Therefore, in comparison with control, shoot dry yield and oil yield increased by 112.73% and 163.32%, respectively. A positive and significant correlation was observed between shoot dry yield and oil yield, essential oil percentage and dry weight to wet weight ratio. Consequently, the combination of NPK and manure fertilizers could be recommended as a suitable nutrition source for plant as well as the improvement of soil structure.