In the shade – Screening of medicinal and aromatic plants for temperate zone agroforestry cultivation
2021
Zubay, Péter | Ruttner, Klára | Ladányi, Márta | Deli, József | Németh Zámboriné, Éva | Szabó, Krisztina
Agroforestry is one of the best land use management systems that regenerate degraded agroecosystems while maintaining high productivity. However, current knowledge about how shade from trees affects the cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants in temperate zones is lacking. Therefore, the authors explored the effects of shade on the most important cultivation parameters of medicinal and aromatic plants. A three-year-long open field study was conducted with a control (C) and two artificial shade treatments (30 % - T1 and 50 % - T2 light intensity decrease). Shade effects on seven different species were evaluated for plant height and width, fresh yield, drug mass, essential oil content, and content of other biologically active compounds. Our first hypothesis was confirmed, because we observed pronounced species-specific shade tolerance. Secondly, it was proven that there are species of medicinal and aromatic plants — grown in temperate climates — for which it is possible to produce the quality of drug specified in the professional standards. They provide adequate yields even under mild (30 %) shade conditions. Consequently Calendula officinalis L., Dracocephalum moldavica L., Melissa officinalis L. and Satureja hortensis L. are highly recommended for further agroforestry experiments in large-scale and authentic agroforestry conditions. Mild shade (30 %) had favourable effects on several species in our experiments; however, 50 % shade produced no favourable effect on any examined species. Therefore, we suggest temperate zone medicinal agroforestry systems be designed such that the shadow should not exceed 30 %.
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