Cultivation and production of endemic clary sage (Salvia sclarea L.) in different agro ecosystems: potentials and opportunities

Clary sage (Salvia sclarea L.) is one of the most important aromatic plants, cultivated worldwide, and is used in flavor and fragrance industries due to its valuable essential oils. In this experiment, carried out in Semnan province during 2005 to 2009, a native Salvia sclarea L. was evaluated for its suitability to be cultivated in arid and semi-arid areas. The seeds of S. sclarea were collected from its natural habitat in the north of Semnan. The seeds (6 kg/h) were sown directly in the fields during the spring. At full flowering stage (in the second year of cultivation), the plants were evaluated for growth parameters and the essential oil yield of inflorescences. The comparison between the natural and agro ecosystems showed that plants in the semi-arid agro ecosystem had the highest plant height, flowering branches, leaf area, total fresh flower yield (8.25 ton/h) and essential oil yield (10 kg/h). The yield of clary sage ecotype cultivated in semi-arid area of Semnan was extremely higher than that of natural habitat. As a whole, the native ecotype of S. sclarea could be an alternative crop with significant economic value to be cultivated in semi-arid conditions.