The Effect of Plant Density on Yield and Production of Essential Oil of Peppermint ( Mentha piperita L.)

In order to examine the effects of plant density on the morohological traits, yield and essential oil of peppermint, an experiment was conduced in Agricultural College of Tabriz University during 2005 and 2006. The treatments included four plant density levels ( 8,12 ,16,20 plants.m-2) with three replications. The treatments were based on a split plot design in time and result analysis of compound variance was done during two years. The two years’ results of the compound variance showed that the plant density affected the fresh yield, dry yield, the bush essential oil percentage and the essential oil yield, but it had no effect on the bush height and the leaf’s essential oil percentage. In the second year, the maximum fresh yield, dry yield, bush height, the bush essential oil percentage, and the essential oil yield were obtained. In the second year, the maximum essential oil yield in the density of 20 plant/m2 was 21.15 li.ha-1.