The Results of Cultivating the Species Agastache foeniculum (Pursh) Kuntze at Jucu, CJ

Abstract

Agastache foeniculum is a recent species cultivated in Romania. The species has the advantage that it can withstand low winter temperatures in the Transylvanian Plain, up to -25º C in soil covered with snow. Another major advantage of the species is that from its total mass, the plant foliage prevails which provides feedstock production materials for medicinal purposes. In the research conducted in 2011-2012 in the experimental field of Jucu were pursued issues regarding morphology, biology and plant phenology as well as productivity elements and finally the production of herba which can be done by the species in two periods of planting and three densities. It was cultivated a local population through seedling in two periods (26.04.2011 and 21.05.2011) at densities of 47 619 plants/ha (30 cm x 70 cm), 35 714 plants/ha (40 cm x 70 cm) and 28 517 plants/ha (50 cm x 70 cm). The experiences location was done by the method of subdivided parcels with 2 factors (time and planting density) in three repetitions. The surface of the experimental plot was 3 m2. Statistical interpretation was made by variance analysis method with one, two, and three factors and interpretation of the results, highlighting the significance of differences after the multiple comparisons test (Duncan test) and Student test. From measurements made ​​at green plants it resulted that leaves represent a significant share of 37.98% of the total mass of the plant, 30.8% branches, main stem 10.44% and 20.78% inflorescences . If dried plant leaves have the highest share from the total plant of 35.89%, followed by branches (25.75%), flowers (19.04%) and 19.32% stems. The results justify the extension of the cultivation of this plant in the Transylvanian Plain, harvested herba with an important phytotherapy value.

Phenological Assessment for Agronomic Suitability of Some Agastache Species Based on Standardized BBCH Scale

“…The maturity of the fruit lasted until the beginning of October, similarly to previous reports in local conditions [26]. In Middle Urals (Russia), the duration of fruit maturation of Agastache spp.…”

“…Studies on the cultivation of Agastache species outside their native range [26,41,60,61] or investigation of domestication gradients in their centers of origin [24] are necessary efforts for elucidating possibilities to extend and optimize their cultivation. Cultivation relies on understanding plant biology and requirements in regards to ecological factors that can be achieved through studying their phenology.…”

“…The fact that these species have a long flowering duration is beneficial for better managing the time of harvest. Under field cultivation, plants of this genus were reported to produce an amount of fresh biomass of 14.5 t/ha in conditions of Transcarpathia, Ukraine [41] and 3.05-3.83 t/ha of dry biomass in conditions of Transylvania, Romania [26].…”

“…The experimental field crop was established in early summer (2 June 2019), as weather conditions due to excessive rainfall did not allow planting in May. Planting was performed at a distance of 70 cm between rows and 50 cm between plants on the row, recommended as optimal for the cultivation of A. foeniculum, in the conditions of Transylvania, Romania [26].…”

“…It is considered a crossover zone and able to sustain a large array of plants of varying hardiness than most other zones [8]. From the genus Agastache, so far, Romania has only cultivated A. foeniculum [26,27]. Hence, the behavior of other species is unknown.…”