Vasile Cerven1, Valtcho D. Zheljazkov2, Charles Cantrell3, M. Wayne Ebelhar, and Dennis E. Rowe4. (1) North Mississippi Res & Ext Center, Mississippi State University, 5421 Hwy 145 South, P.O. Box 1690, Verona, MS 38879, (2) North Mississippi Res & Ext Center, Mississippi State, 5421 Highway 145 S, Verona, MS 38879, (3) Natural Products Utilization Research Unit, USDA-ARS, P.O. Box 8048, University, MS 38877, (4) Experimental Statistics, Mississippi State University, 149 Dorman Hall, Mississippi State, MS 39762
Field experiment was conducted to evaluate the potential of peppermint (Mentha piperita L. cv. Black Mitcham) as a high-value essential oil crop for Mississippi. Treatments were N rate (0, 80, 160 kg/ha), location (Stoneville, Verona) and harvesting stages (bud formation and flowering). Overall peppermint essential oil content was significantly affected by location: 1.2% (Stoneville), 0.84% (Verona); harvesting stages: 1.16% (bud formation), 0.88% (flowering) but was not affected by N rate in flowering stage. Peppermint biomass yield was also significantly affected by location: 6.12 t/ha (Stoneville) and 8.12 t/ha (Verona) in flowering phase. Peppermint biomass yields in bud formation (Verona) were significantly increased by N rate (N160) at the second harvest in bud formation. The level of menthol was 29% at bud formation and 28% at flowering stage, whereas menthone was 23% and 17% accordingly. Our results indicated that peppermint is a promising high-value essential oil crop for the two locations in Mississippi.