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Influence of soil water management on plant growth, essential oil yield and oil composition of rose-scented geranium (Pelargonium spp.)

Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2009.

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Other Authors: Steyn, Joachim Marthinus
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Published: University of Pretoria 2013
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author2 Steyn, Joachim Marthinus
author_browse Steyn, Joachim Marthinus
author_facet Steyn, Joachim Marthinus
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv © 2009, University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria.
description Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2009.
format Thesis
id oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/28775
institution University of Pretoria (South Africa)
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:36:23.211Z
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spelling oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/28775 Influence of soil water management on plant growth, essential oil yield and oil composition of rose-scented geranium (Pelargonium spp.) Steyn, Joachim Marthinus Soundy, Puffy bkef68@yahoo.com Eiasu, Bahlebi Kibreab Irrigation-withholding period Herbage yield Transpiration rate Maximum allowable depletion level Relative water content Stomatal conductance Trichomes Water stress Water potential Water use Water-use efficiency Geranyl formate Geraniol Citronellol Essential oil content Citronellyl formate UCTD Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2009. Introducing effective irrigation management in arid and semi-arid regions, like most areas of South Africa, is an indispensable way of maximising crop yield and enhancing productivity of scarce freshwater resources. Holistic improvements in agricultural water management could be realised through integrating the knowledge of crop-specific water requirements. In order to develop effective irrigation schedules for rose-scented geranium (Pelargonium capitatum x P. radens), greenhouse and field experiments were conducted at the Hatfield Experimental Farm of the University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa, from 28 October 2004 to 2006. Results from 20, 40, 60 and 80% maximum allowable depletion (MAD) levels of the plant available soil water (ASW) indicated that plant roots extracted most of the soil water from the top 40 cm soil layer, independent of the treatment. Both essential oil yield and fresh herbage mass responded positively to high soil water content. Increasing the MAD level to 60% and higher resulted in a significant reduction in herbage mass and essential oil yields. An increase in the degree of water stress apparently increased the essential oil concentration (percentage oil on fresh herbage mass basis), but its contribution to total essential oil yield (kg/ha oil) was limited. There was no significant relationship between MAD level and essential oil composition. For water saving without a significant reduction in essential oil yield of rose-scented geranium, a MAD of 40% of ASW is proposed. Response of rose-scented geranium to a one-month irrigation withholding period in the second or third month of regrowth cycles showed that herbage mass and oil yield were positively related. Herbage yield was significantly reduced when the water stress period was imposed during the third or fourth month of regrowth. A remarkable essential oil yield loss was observed only when the plants were stressed during the fourth month of regrowth. Essential oil content (% oil on fresh herbage mass basis) was higher in stressed plants, especially when stressed late, but oil yield dropped due to lower herbage mass. The relationship between essential oil composition and irrigation treatments was not consistent. Water-use efficiency was not significantly affected by withholding irrigation in the second or in the third month of regrowth. With a marginal oil yield loss, about 330 to 460 m3 of water per hectare per regrowth cycle could be saved by withholding irrigation during the third month of regrowth. The overall results highlighted that in water-scarce regions withholding irrigation during either the second or the third month of regrowth in rose-scented geranium could save water that could be used by other sectors of society. In greenhouse pot experiments, rose-scented geranium was grown under different irrigation frequencies, in two growth media. Irrigation was withheld on 50% of the plants (in each plot) for the week prior to harvesting. Herbage and essential oil yields were better in the sandy clay soil than in silica sand. Essential oil content (% oil on fresh herbage mass basis) apparently increased with a decrease in irrigation frequency. Both herbage and total essential oil yields positively responded to frequent irrigation. A one-week stress period prior to harvesting significantly increased essential oil content and total essential oil yield. Hence, the highest essential oil yield was obtained from a combination of high irrigation frequency and a one-week irrigation-withholding period. In the irrigation frequency treatments, citronellol and citronellyl formate contents tended to increase with an increase in the stress level, but the reverse was true for geraniol and geranyl formate. Leaf physiological data were recorded during the terminal one-week water stress in the glasshouse pot trial. Upon rewatering, stomatal conductance (Gs) and transpiration rate (Rt) were significantly lower in the less often irrigated than in the more often irrigated treatments, while leaf water potential (yw) and relative water content (RWC) were the same for all plants, indicating that water stress had an after-effect on Gs and Rt. At the end of the stress period, Gs, Rt, yw and RWC were lower in the plants from the more often irrigated than from the less often irrigated treatments. Irrespective of irrigation treatment, one type of non-glandular and two types (different in shape and size) of glandular trichomes were observed. In water stressed-conditions, stomata and trichome densities increased, while the total number of stomata and trichomes per leaf appeared to remain more or less the same. Water stress conditions resulted in stomatal closure. Plant Production and Soil Science unrestricted 2013-09-07T14:13:14Z 2009-10-29 2013-09-07T14:13:14Z 2009-09-02 2009-10-29 2009-10-17 Thesis Eiasu, BJ 2009 Influence of soil water management on plant growth, essential oil yield and oil composition of rose-scented geranium (Pelargonium spp.), PhD thesis, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, viewed yymmdd < http://hdl.handle.net/2263/28775 > D688/ag http://hdl.handle.net/2263/28775 http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-10172009-100336/ © 2009, University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf application/pdf University of Pretoria
spellingShingle Irrigation-withholding period
Herbage yield
Transpiration rate
Maximum allowable depletion level
Relative water content
Stomatal conductance
Trichomes
Water stress
Water potential
Water use
Water-use efficiency
Geranyl formate
Geraniol
Citronellol
Essential oil content
Citronellyl formate
UCTD
Influence of soil water management on plant growth, essential oil yield and oil composition of rose-scented geranium (Pelargonium spp.)
title Influence of soil water management on plant growth, essential oil yield and oil composition of rose-scented geranium (Pelargonium spp.)
title_full Influence of soil water management on plant growth, essential oil yield and oil composition of rose-scented geranium (Pelargonium spp.)
title_fullStr Influence of soil water management on plant growth, essential oil yield and oil composition of rose-scented geranium (Pelargonium spp.)
title_full_unstemmed Influence of soil water management on plant growth, essential oil yield and oil composition of rose-scented geranium (Pelargonium spp.)
title_short Influence of soil water management on plant growth, essential oil yield and oil composition of rose-scented geranium (Pelargonium spp.)
title_sort influence of soil water management on plant growth essential oil yield and oil composition of rose scented geranium pelargonium spp
topic Irrigation-withholding period
Herbage yield
Transpiration rate
Maximum allowable depletion level
Relative water content
Stomatal conductance
Trichomes
Water stress
Water potential
Water use
Water-use efficiency
Geranyl formate
Geraniol
Citronellol
Essential oil content
Citronellyl formate
UCTD
url http://hdl.handle.net/2263/28775
http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-10172009-100336/