Lemongrass Productivity, Oil Content, and Composition as a Function of Nitrogen, Sulfur, and Harvest Time

Abstract

Lemongrass [Cymbopogon flexuosus (Steud.) Wats, (syn. Andropogon nardus var. flexuosus Hack; A. flexuosus Nees)] is one of the most widely grown essential oil plants in the world. Field experiments were conducted at Verona and Poplarville, MS, to evaluate the effects of N (0, 40, 80, and 160 kg N/ha) and S (0, 30, 60, and 90 kg S/ha) on lemongrass biomass productivity, essential oil content, yield, and oil composition. Overall, the essential oil content varied within 0.35 to 0.6% of the dried biomass. The major constituents were geranial (25–53%), neral (20–45%), caryophyllene oxide (1.3–7.2%), and t‐caryophyllene (0.3–2.2%). Biomass yields at Verona ranged from 9486 to 19,375 kg/ha, while oil yields ranged from 30 to 139 kg/ha. Overall, dry weight yields increased with the application of 80 kg N/ha relative to the 0 kg N/ha and with 160 kg of N/ha relative to the 0 and 40 kg N/ha treatments. At Poplarville, biomass yields varied from 8036 to 12,593 kg/ha, while oil yields ranged from 23.5 to 89.5 kg/ha. The application of N at 160 kg/ha at Poplarville increased dry weight yields relative to the N at 0 or 40 kg/ha rates, irrespective of the rate used for S. At Verona, within each S application rate, biomass yields were highest in Harvest 2, lower in Harvest 1, and the lowest in Harvest 3 (regrowth). The combined biomass yields of Harvest 1 and Harvest 3 would be lower, but oil yields would be higher compared to Harvest 2 (single‐harvest system). Lemongrass can be grown as an annual essential oil crop in the southeastern United States, with a potential for dual utilization: essential oil and lignocellulosic material for ethanol production.

Essential oil composition of sweet basil cultivars as affected by nitrogen and potassium fertilization

“…Similarly, Zheljazkov et al (2008) showed maximum basil oil yield when the medium rate of nitrogen was applied. Sifola and Barbieri (2006) found that nitrogen fertilization increased above-ground yield, fresh leaf biomass, and oil concentration and yield in basil.…”

“…Environmental and agrotechnical factors are another group of factors that affect the amount and quality of basil yield. Optimal plant fertilization, in particular nitrogen and potassium fertilization, is of great importance in the cultivation of basil (Kandil et al 2009;Zheljazkov et al 2008;Daneshian et al 2008;Nurzyńska-Wierdak et al 2011).…”

Potential control of beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) wilt disease using growth regulators, bioagent, antioxidants and essential oils as foliar application under field conditions

“…Geraniol, linalool, gamma-terpineol, carvacrol, thymol and trans-thujan-4-ol/terpinen-4-ol were the major constituents (Amiri, 2012 (Zheljazkov et al, 2011) due to its major constituents caryophyllene oxide, t-caryophyllene, geranyl acetate, (E)-citral (geranial), (Z)-citral (neral), and trans-geraniol, citronellyl acetate, citronellol, geraniol and limonene.…”

<b>Supplementation with microencapsulated lemongrass essential oil improves protein deposition and carcass yield in silver catfish (<i>Rhamdia quelen</i>)

“…Cymbopogon flexuosus is a highly productive and vigorous plant that has good yield of dry mass (7-25 t ha -1 ) and higher yield in the production of EO (100 L of EO ha -1 ) (Zheljazkov, Cantrell, Astatkie, & Cannon, 2011) compared to other citral-rich herbs like L. alba (citral chemotype) (~26-67 L of EO ha -1 ) (Zambrano, Buitrago, Durán, Sanchez, & Bonilla, 2013) and A. triphylla (10 L of EO ha -1 ) (Al-Mefleh, Abu Salah, & Abandeh, 2012). These characteristics increase the economic viability for the production of C. flexuosus EO.…”