Evaluation of valerian and lemon verbena production using different soilless and soil cultivations under glasshouse

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to asses the potential growth of valerian (Valeriana officinalis var common) and lemon verbena (Lipia citriodora var. Verbena) in hydroponic systems in various production systems which consisted of floating (FL), aeroponic (AE), growing media with perlite and vermiculite (GM) and soil media (SM). The plants were harvest after six months and their vegetative trials, root characteristics and essential oil were measured. In the valerian plants, the highest fresh weight of both leaves (802 g plant(-1)) and roots (364.5 g plant(-1)) was observed in the FL system. The concentration of essential oil in both FL and AE systems was higher compare to those of GM and SM systems. Volume of roots in the FL and AE systems significantly was higher and led to the increased total oil content. No significant difference in leaf area was found between FL and GM systems however, it was reduced considerably in AE and SM systems. In lemon verbena plants, the fresh weight of leaves was significantly increased in FL system compared to the other systems. Different systems had no significant effect on the essential oil concentration in lemon verbena however; the total content of oil in FL system was significantly increased as the result of the higher fresh weight of the leaves. It can be concluded that both FL and GM systems could be used for the production of both valerian and lemon verbena under glasshouse. In general, it could be possible to produce some medicinal plants in different production systems under glasshouse.