The effect of Nitrogen fertilizer on essential oil content and compositions of Mexican marigold (Tagetes minuta L.)

This field experiment was conducted from April to October 2005 in order to study the effects of different nitrogen levels (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 kg ha-1) on essential oil content and compositions of Mexican marigold (Tagetes minuta L.). The utilization of nitrogen significantly affected essential oil content and compositions of Mexican marigold compared to control samples without nitrogen fertilizer. The application of 200 kg ha-1 nitrogen gave the highest oil content (1.16%). The results of the oil analysis showed that the constituents of the oils varied between nitrogen levels. There fore it could be concluded that for maximum production of essential oil, Mexican marigold should be grown with 200 kg ha-1 nitrogen but in order to preserve environment by decrease consuming fertilizer and soil management it is better to suggest 150 kg ha-1 nitrogen to produce safer crops because of the little differences of 150 with 200 kg ha-1 nitrogen on oil content.