The effect of plant nutrition methods (chemical, intermediate and organic)on yield and oil of Thymus daenensis

In order to study different methods of soil fertilization in thyme (Thymus daienesis) and its effects on agro- ecosystem, this research carried out during 2007- 2010 in Agricultural and Resource Research Center of Esfahan. The treatments were different levels of chemical fertilizers (NPK), using in conventional cropping systems ( based on chemical nutrition method), different levels of manure fertilizers, using in sustainable cropping systems ( based on organic method) and combination of chemical and manure fertilizers, using in intermediate nutrition management. These treatments were compared with the control. The project had 3 replications , according to a randomized complete block design with spilit plot in time layout. Based on the combined results in chemical nutrition, the highest amount of shoot dry yield and oil yield achieved in NPK= 150- 100- 100 Kg/ha, by an average of 1201/66 and 31/99 Kg/ha respectively. Among intermediate nutrition treatments, combination of 35 ton/ha manure and NPK= 40- 32- 32 Kg/ha produced the highest amount of shoot dry yield and oil yield, equal to 1704/90 and 52/30 Kg/ha respectively. In organic nutrition method the highest amount of shoot dry yield belonged to 35 ton/ha manure by an average of 1416/30 Kg/ha and the highest oil yield was 36/19 Kg/ha, produced by applying 25 ton/ha manure. Therefore in comparison with control, shoot dry yield and oil yield increased by application of chemical nutrition method (52/59 and 60/30%), intermediate nutrition method (116/49 and 162/81%) and organic nutrition method (79/84 and 81/85%). Also results showed that the first harvesting had the highest shoot dry yield and oil yield. The main components of thyme oil included Thymol, Carvacrol, E- caryophylene, Borneole, P- cymene, 1, 8- cineole and methyl carvacrole. Among them thymol as the major component didn t show significant difference between treatments. Based on the results, in intermediate method, using of manure and reducing chemical fertilizers caused increase of shoot dry yield. Based on the results, intermediate treatment with 35 ton/ha manure together with NPK= 40- 32- 32 Kg/ha, produced the highest shoot dry yield, oil yield and essential oil percentage. Finally it was concluded that intermediate method was the superior treatment in order to improving quantitative and qualitative yield and can lead to sustainable agriculture. Key words: Thymus daenensis, soil fertilization method, dry yield, essential oil components