The responses of yield and some morpho-physiological traits of savory (Satureja hortensis) to sowing date and irrigation levels in Birjand

To determine the effect of irrigation levels and planting date on savory, an experiment was carried out in Agricultural, Medicinal Plants and Animal Sciences Research center of Islamic Azad University of Birjand, Iran in 2016-2017. The experimental design was split plot based on a randomized complete block design with three replications. Irrigation levels (25, 50, 75 and 100% of evaporation (E) from the class A evaporation pan) and planting dates (March 17, April 10 and May 5) were as main plots and sub- plots, respectively. Results showed that shoot WUE increased (69%) in 25% E compared to 100% E treatment. The effect of planting date on all studied traits was significant. The highest plant height, number of branches, dry weight of flowering branches and shoot, flowering branches WUE, shoot WUE, essential oil WUE and yield were obtained in the 5 May planting date. Also, the highest percentage of essential oil and leaf RWC was observed in the April 10 planting date. The interaction of irrigation and planting dates showed that 100% E and 5 May planting date resulted in the highest (31.28) and 25% E and 17 March planting date produced the lowest (18.14) number of branches per plant. The results of this experiment showed that considering WUE, to achieve the maximum quantitative and qualitative performance of savory in Birjand, it is better to sow it on May 5 and irrigate it at 25% evaporation from pan, in five days irrigation intervals.