Field studies of nitrogen application on Greek oregano (Origanum vulgare ssp hirtum (Link) Ietswaart) essential oil during two cultivation seasons

The effects of four levels of fertilizer nitrogen application (0, 40, 80 and 120 kg N ha(-1)) on oil yield, concentration, and composition of Greek oregano (Origanum vulgare ssp. hirtum (Link) letswaart) during the second and third seasons from its field establishment were examined. Oil concentration per plant increased significantly from about 1.5% to 2.0% in the second to about 5.5% (v/w) in the third season and it was higher in the inflorescences when compared with leaves. No significant effects of fertilizer application on oil concentration were detected. Oil yield showed significant peaks at nitrogen rates of 80 kg ha(-1) in both seasons and was significantly higher in the third (between 57 and 831 ha(-1)), when compared with the second season (between 17 and 271 ha(-1)). Such a response was ascribed to the positive nitrogen effects on herbage yield. As regards oil composition, nitrogen fertilization exhibited some significant effects only in the third, more humid, season. Thus, it positively affected linalool content in inflorescences at the rate of 80 kg N ha(-1) and carvacrol content in leaves at the rates of 40, 80 and 120 kg N ha(-1). On the other hand, pi-cymene, caryophyllene, alpha-pinene, thymol, and camphene were observed at higher levels in the unfertilized plots. Carvacrol was the dominant constituent of the essential oil content ranging from 56.46% to 84.88% among organs, treatments and seasons. It was followed by pi-cymene (4.19-21.4%) and alpha-pinene (0.11-1.88%). Thymol was detected at low levels (0.20-1.44%). Carvacrol percentage was higher in the drier and warmer season (70.75-84.88%) in both leaves and inflorescences, whereas a number of compounds (alpha-thujene, alpha-pinene, camphene, myrcene, alpha- and gamma-terpinene, pi-cymene, cis-hydrosavinene, linalool, alpha-terpineol, alpha-caryophyllene, and beta-disavolene) tended to accumulate at higher levels during the wetter and colder season. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.