Conventional and Organic Fertilization Improve the Growth Responses and Essential Oil Content of Salvia fruticosa Mill.

Salvia is an important medicinal plant widely used in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of chemical and different organic fertilizers on the yield and quality of Salvia fruticosa Mill. The experiment followed a randomized block design with six treatments and four replicates, i.e. control (C: untreated plants), chemical fertilizer (F) (150:90:100 kg ha-1), farmyard manure (FYM), chicken manure (CM), vermicompost (VC), and spent mushroom compost (SMC) (the objective was to obtain 150 kg N ha-1 for organic fertilizer). The fresh yield increased with chemical fertilizer by 25% and 29% and organic fertilizers by 1.53%-14.9% and 11.8%-21.0% compared to control according to years. Farmyard manure was more effective among organic fertilizers for fresh and dry herb yield. Essential oil content (EO) increased by 2.22%-8.44% and 6.9%-17.1% in 1st and 2nd growing years. The residual effect of organic fertilizers on EO was higher than that of chemical fertilization. EOY increased by 5.4%-21.2% and 18.5%- 29.0% with organic fertilization compared to the control in both years while it increased by 39.7% and 43.3% with chemical fertilization. 1,8-cineole was the main component of essential oil and the highest concentration was determined with chemical fertilizer in 1st year while farmyard manure was in 2nd year. An organic fertilizer used that is suitable under producer conditions is believed to be important for Salvia fruticosa growing.