Paper: Effect of N, Location, and Harvesting Stage on Peppermint Productivity, Oil Content, and Composition.

Monday, February 2, 2009: 9:00 AM

Westin Peachtree Plaza, International Room C

Vasile Cerven, North Mississippi Res & Ext Center, Mississippi State University, Verona, MS, Valtcho D. Zheljazkov, North Mississippi Res & Ext Center, Mississippi State, Verona, MS, Charles Cantrell, Natural Products Utilization Research Unit, USDA-ARS, University, MS, M. Wayne Ebelhar, Mississippi State University, Stoneville, MS and Dennis E. Rowe, Experimental Statistics, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS

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.

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