Effects of applied nitrogen fertiliser on the chemical composition of the essential oil of three Leptospermum spp. [L. petersonii; L. flavescens; L. luehmannii]
1990
Diatloff, E.
In a glasshouse pot experiment under 4 fertilizer N levels, supplied as ammonium nitrate, growth and oil yield of the 3 Leptospermum species showed no response to N fertilisation. However, the oil composition in L. petersonii and L. flavescens leaves was affected. The greatest response was in the geranial and citronellal contents in L. petersonii, which peaked in the 40 kg N per ha treatment. This is the first known report of the manipulation of essential oil composition of Australian native plants by N fertilisation. The low optimal level of N fertiliser required for maximum production of valuable oil components indicates that Leptospermum spp. are suitable for infertile soils. the low alpha-pinene yield of L. luehmannii makes it unsuitable for commercial exploitation.
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