Influence of plant population density on growth and yield of Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) at Wondo Genet South Ethiopia

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Wondo Genet Agricultural Research Center in the production season of 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 with the objective of identifying the best combination of intra and inter-row spacing for optimum plant population density of rosemary. The treatments consisted of five intra-row spacing (50, 60, 70, 80, and 90 cm) and three inter-row spacing (60, 80 and 100 cm) with a total treatment combination of fifteen that were laid out in factorial randomized completely block design with three replications. Data on plant height, fresh leaf weight per plant, fresh aboveground biomass and dry leaf weight were collected and analyzed. The main effect of intra-row and inter-row spacing had a significant influence on the number of branch per plant, fresh leaf weight per plant, dry leaf weight per hectare and oil yield per hectare in each year and pooled mean. The interaction effect of intra-row and inter-row spacing caused significant variations in the number of branch per plant, fresh leaf weight per hectare and aboveground biomass per hectare in the pooled mean analysis. Plant height and oil content were not influenced by the main effect of intra-row and inter-row spacing and their interaction in each year and pooled mean. Significantly maximum fresh leaf yield (23777 kg ha-1) and fresh aboveground biomass (33746 kg ha-1) were obtained from the combined of 50 cm intra-row and 60 cm inter-row spacing. Significantly higher dry leaf yield (7081.1 kg ha-1) and (6333.4 mkg ha-1) and oil yield (174.6 kg ha-1) and (154.7 kg ha-1) were obtained from the main effect of 50 cm intra-row and 60 cm inter-row spacing respectively. It may, therefore, be concluded that spacing combination of 50 cm intra-row x 60 cm inter-row responded favorably in attaining higher leaf yield and oil yield of Rosemary in the area. \n \n Key words: Rosemary inter-row, intra- row, spacing, plant population.