Biomass yield, essential oil yield and essential oil composition of rose-scented geranium (Pelargoniumspecies) as influenced by row spacings and intercropping with cornmint (Mentha arvensis L.f. piperascens Malinv. ex Holmes)

Published Date
Industrial Crops and Products
September 2002, Vol.16(2):133–144, doi:10.1016/S0926-6690(02)00038-9

• Author 

• B.R.Rajeswara Rao ^,,

• Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Field Station, Boduppal, Uppal (Post Office), Hyderabad 500 039, India

Accepted 24 April 2002. Available online 28 June 2002. 

Abstract

Rose-scented geranium (Pelargonium species, family, Geraniaceae) is a vegetatively propagated (through rooted stem cuttings), initially slow growing, high value aromatic crop. Cornmint (Mentha arvensis L. f. piperascens Malinvaud ex Holmes, family, Lamiaceae) is also a vegetatively propagated (through rhizomes, runners or stolons and terminal stem cuttings), high demand aromatic–cum–medicinal crop. Essential oils isolated through steam distillation of shoot biomass of these two crops are extensively used in fragrance, flavor, and pharmaceutical industries and in aromatherapy. A field experiment was carried out during the vegetation periods of 1996–1998 in semi-arid tropical climate to investigate the influence of different row spacings (60×30, 75×30, 90×30 and 120×30 cm) and intercropping cornmint cv. Shivalik on the biomass yield, essential oil yield and essential oil composition of rose-scented geranium cv. Bourbon. The row spacing of 60×30 cm (60 cm between rows and 30 cm between plants within the rows) was superior to other row spacings and produced 57.4 t/ha total (total of four harvests) biomass yield (132.4% higher than 120×30 cm spacing) and 52.7 kg/ha total essential oil yield (98.9% greater than 120×30 cm spacing). Intercropping of cornmint did not affect biomass yield and essential oil yield of rose-scented geranium and yielded 5.6 t/ha of biomass and 21.3 kg/ha of essential oil of cornmint as bonus yields over and above that of rose-scented geranium. However, biomass yield and essential oil yield of intercropped cornmint suffered reductions of 53.4 and 59.1%, respectively, compared with monocropped cornmint. Intercropping controlled weed growth and decreased total (total of three harvests) biomass yield of weeds by 40.0% in rose-scented geranium intercropped with cornmint. The chemical composition of essential oils of both the crops was not influenced either by row spacings or by intercropping. The quality of essential oils of both the crops was good and was readily accepted in the market.

Keywords

Pelargonium species

Mentha arvensis

Row spacings

Intercropping

Biomass yield

Essential oil yield

Essential oil composition

Citronellol

Geraniol

Menthol

---

 Table 1

Table 1.

 Table 2

Table 2.

 Table 3

Table 3.

Fig. 1.

 Table 4

Table 4.

 Table 5

Table 5.

 Table 6

Table 6.

 Table 7

Table 7.

• * 
  Tel.: +91-40-720-1131/2602

Copyright © 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

For further details log on website :
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0926669002000389