Mostafa Amani Machiani1, Abdollah Javanmard2, Mohammad Reza Morshedloo3, Ahmad Aghaee4, Filippo Maggi5. 1. Department of Plant Production and Genetics, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Maragheh, P.O.Box 55136-553, Maragheh, Iran. 2. Department of Plant Production and Genetics, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Maragheh, P.O.Box 55136-553, Maragheh, Iran. a.javanmard@maragheh.ac.ir. 3. Department of Horticultural Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Maragheh, P.O.Box 55136-553, Maragheh, Iran. 4. Department of Plant Biology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Maragheh, P.O.Box 55136-553, Maragheh, Iran. 5. School of Pharmacy, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy.
Abstract
Intercropping of medicinal plants/legumes along with bio-fertilizer application is a relatively new sustainable practice for improving the yield and secondary metabolites production. Here, a 2-years field experiment was performed to evaluate the effects of water deficit stress and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) application (as bio-fertilizer) on nutrients concentration, dry matter yield, essential oil quantity and quality of thyme in intercropping with soybean. Three irrigation levels, including (i) irrigation after depletion of 20% (I20) as non-stressed, 50% (I50) as moderate water deficit and 80% (I80) available water as severe water deficit were applied as the main factor. The sub-factor was represented by different cropping patterns including thyme sole culture, replacement intercrop ratio of 50:50 and 66:34 (soybean: thyme) and the third factor was non-usage (control) and usage of AMF. According to our results, the thyme dry yield under moderate and severe water deficit stress decreased by 35 and 44% in the first year, and by 27 and 40% in the second year compared with non-stressed (I20) plants, respectively. Also, the macro- and micro-nutrients of thyme leaves increased significantly in intercropping patterns after application of AMF. The maximum essential oil percentage of thyme was achieved in 50:50 intercropping ratio treated with AMF. Under moderate and severe water deficits, the major constituents of thyme essential oil including thymol, p-cymene and γ-terpinene were increased in intercropping patterns treated with AMF. Generally, AMF application in intercropping ratio of 50:50 may be proposed to farmers as an eco-friendly approach to achieve desirable essential oil quality and quantity in thyme under water deficit stress conditions.
Intercropping of medicinal plants/legumes along with bio-fertilizer application is a relatively new sustainable practice for improving the yield anpan>d secondary metabolites production. Here, a 2-years field experiment was performed to evaluate the efpan> class="Chemical">fects of water deficit stress and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) application (as bio-fertilizer) on nutrients concentration, dry matter yield, essential oil quantity and quality of thyme in intercropping with soybean. Three irrigation levels, including (i) irrigation after depletion of 20% (I20) as non-stressed, 50% (I50) as moderate water deficit and 80% (I80) available water as severe water deficit were applied as the main factor. The sub-factor was represented by different cropping patterns including thyme sole culture, replacement intercrop ratio of 50:50 and 66:34 (soybean: thyme) and the third factor was non-usage (control) and usage of AMF. According to our results, the thyme dry yield under moderate and severe water deficit stress decreased by 35 and 44% in the first year, and by 27 and 40% in the second year compared with non-stressed (I20) plants, respectively. Also, the macro- and micro-nutrients of thyme leaves increased significantly in intercropping patterns after application of AMF. The maximum essential oil percentage of thyme was achieved in 50:50 intercropping ratio treated with AMF. Under moderate and severe water deficits, the major constituents of thyme essential oil including thymol, p-cymene and γ-terpinene were increased in intercropping patterns treated with AMF. Generally, AMF application in intercropping ratio of 50:50 may be proposed to farmers as an eco-friendly approach to achieve desirable essential oil quality and quantity in thyme under water deficit stress conditions.
Authors: Ali Ostadi; Abdollah Javanmard; Mostafa Amani Machiani; Amir Sadeghpour; Filippo Maggi; Mojtaba Nouraein; Mohammad Reza Morshedloo; Christophe Hano; Jose M Lorenzo Journal: Plants (Basel) Date: 2022-06-23