Evaluation of savory (Satureja hortensis L.) under organic farming system

Abstract

Growing herbs and spices using organic methods are supported and encouraged in Egypt. This study was conducted on summer savory (Satureja hortensis L.) throughout the growing seasons of 2019/2020 and 2020/2021. The research was carried out on a plantation that adheres to organic farming practices to ascertain the impact of chitosan and bio-fertilizer EM on the crop. The study was designed with a split-plot as the layout. For the main plots, it was recommended to use rates for chitosan spray that were 0, 5, and 10 liters/hectare. For the subplots, it was recommended to use bio-fertilizer EM, either with or without. Our findings indicated that applying chitosan spray to plants at 10 liters/hectare while using bio-fertilizer produced the highest growth, herbage yield, and improved volatile oil characteristics. The volatile oil constituents were dominated by γ-terpinene and carvacrol. The highest levels of γ-terpinene and carvacrol were found in oils extracted from chitosan and biofertilizer-treated plants. These constituents were lower in control.