Effect of plant spacing and application of nitrogen fertilizer on herb and essential oil yields of palmarosa (<i>Cymbopogon martini</i> Stapf. var. motia)

Abstract

Summary A field experiment was conducted for 2 years during the crop seasons of 1980–2 to study the effect of diverse plant spacings and rates of nitrogen application on the yields of herb and essential oil of palmarosa ( Cymbopogon martini Stapf. var. motia). The results indicated that at closer plant spacings of 30 × 30 cm (110 000 plants/ha) and 45 × 30 cm (74000 plants/ha), palmarosa responded to higher amounts of N fertilizer (240 kg N/ha/year). It was suggested that a plant spacing of 30 × 30 and 45 × 30 cm and application of 240 kg N/ha/year result in high essential oil yield of palmarosa.