Renewed interest in medicinal herbs has resulted in the need to
domesticate medicinal plants traditionally harvested in the wild.
American skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora), native to moist habitats in
eastern North America, is known for its sedative properties associated
with the flavonoid, scutellarin, and also contains baicalein and
baicalin, which have multiple uses. Information on how growing
conditions affect the yield and concentration of flavonoids is lacking.
A 2 X 2 X 3 split plot factorial experiment was established in Shorter,
Alabama on a Marvyn loamy sand (Fine-loamy, kaolinitic, thermic Typic
Kanhapludults) to determine the effects of growing conditions on
above-ground biomass yield and flavonoid content. Treatment factors are
shade (40 % shade vs no shade), irrigation (applied at 30 kPa vs no
irrigation) and nutrients (no fertilizer, fertilizer (100 kg N, 68 kg P,
42 kg K ha-1) and chicken litter applied at the rate of 100kg N ha-1.
The shade factor forms the main plot units while irrigation and nutrient
factors are in the subplots. Seedlings were started in greenhouse and
transplanted to field on April 30, 2007. Above-ground plant parts will
be harvested twice yearly at full bloom for dry weight determination and
flavonoid content. At first harvest, shade did not affect yield, but
increased height by 33% and decreased percent dry matter by 14.5%.
Irrigation increased yield by 23.7%, height by 12.7% and decreased
percent dry matter by 8.3%. Nutrient application increased yield by
45.7%, and height by 9.9%, while manure increased yield by 11.1 %
compared to fertilizer application.