Improvement of essential oil yield and quality of Ajwain’s through foliar micronutrient application

K. MISBA; B. S. HARISH; B. N. MARUTHI PRASAD; J. JAYAPPA; B. N. DHANANJAYA; S. MOHAN KUMAR

doi:10.61475/JFS.2023.v36i4.20

K. MISBA Department of Plantation, Spices, Medicinal and Aromatic Crops, College of Horticulture, University of Horticultural Sciences Campus, GKVK Post, Bengaluru - 560 065, India
B. S. HARISH Department of Plantation, Spices, Medicinal and Aromatic Crops, College of Horticulture, University of Horticultural Sciences Campus, GKVK Post, Bengaluru - 560 065, India
B. N. MARUTHI PRASAD Department of Plantation, Spices, Medicinal and Aromatic Crops, College of Horticulture, University of Horticultural Sciences Campus, GKVK Post, Bengaluru - 560 065, India
J. JAYAPPA College of Horticulture, University of Horticultural Sciences Campus, GKVK Post, Bengaluru - 560 065, IndiaDepartment of Entomology,
B. N. DHANANJAYA Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Horticulture, University of Horticultural Sciences Campus, GKVK Post, Bengaluru - 560 065, India
S. MOHAN KUMAR Department of Biotechnology and Crop Improvement College of Horticulture, University of Horticultural Sciences Campus, GKVK Post, Bengaluru - 560 065, India

DOI: https://doi.org/10.61475/JFS.2023.v36i4.20

Keywords: Ajwain, Essential oil, Micronutrients, Thymol

Abstract

Ajwain is an important seed spice crop, yielding an essential oil, which is a secondary metabolite and its accumulation is influenced by multiple factors. Micronutrients play a crucial role and influence the quality of essential oil. To assess the influence of micronutrients impact on essential oil yield, quality and composition an experiment was conducted at College of Horticulture, Bengaluru during rabi 2022-23. The experiment was laid out in Randomized complete block design comprising of 15 treatments and their combinations, which were administered as foliar sprays. Quality of the oil was analyzed through GC-MS. Foliar spray of 0.5% MnSO4 at 45 and 60 days after sowing recorded maximum thymol (65.54%); 0.5% CuSO4 at 45 DAS recoded highest essential oil content (2.84%); maximum essential oil yield was recorded in foliar spray of all micronutrients (29.39 kg ha-1). Foliar spray of micronutrients significantly impacted the accumulation of essential oil and thymol, which is the key component of ajwain oil.