Background
The most important advantages of foliar fertilization are to improve plant growth and crop quality, appropriately manage the nutritional status of plants, enhance disease resistance and regulate nutrient deficiencies.
Main body
The aim of this manuscript is to outline and emphasize the importance of foliar application of nutrients in order to increase both quality and yield of medicinal and aromatic plants. The searches focused on publications from 1980 to July 2021 using PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct and Scopus databases. The current manuscript presented many examples of potential of foliar application for medicinal and aromatic plants production systems. Foliar application of Fe and Zn on Anise; Se on Atractylodes; Zn sulfate on Basil, Costmary, Mint and Fenugreek; Se and Fe on Stevia; S and P on castor bean; Zn and Fe on Chamomile; Cu, Mg and ZnSO4 on Damask rose; N and P on Fennel; Se on water spinach and tea; K+ and Ca2+ on Thyme; Zn and K on Spearmint; Zn on Saffron, Ni on Pot marigold; Fe on peppermint, N and P on Mustard had positive and significant impacts.
Conclusion
Observed impacts of foliar fertilization consisted of significant increase of yield, enhanced resistance to insects, pests and diseases, improved drought tolerance and escalated crop quality.