1246:
Peppermint Productivity And Composition In Mississippi as a Function of Cutting Date And N Rates

Monday, July 27, 2009: 9:00 AM
Jefferson A (Millennium Hotel St. Louis)
Vasile Cerven , Verona, MS
Valtcho D. Jeliazkov , North Mississippi Research and Extension Center, Mississippi State Univ, Verona, MS
Charles Cantrell , National Center for Natural Products Research, USDA-ARS, University, MS
M. Wayne Ebelhar , Mississippi State, Stoneville, MS
Dennis Rowe , Plant and Soil Sciences, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS
Valtcho D. Jeliazkov , Mississippi State Univ, Verona, MS
The goal of this project was to evaluate the potential of peppermint (Mentha piperita L. cv. Black Mitcham) as a high-value essential oil crop for Mississippi. The objective was to assess the effect of N rates (0, 80, 160 kg/ha) and cut on peppermint productivity and composition harvested in bud formation. The biomass and oil yields from the first cut (July 13) were significantly higher than the second cut (October, 2). Essential oil concentration was not significantly influenced by cutting dates but the oil yield decreased with the second cut. Peppermint oil composition was altered with cutting dates: (-)-menthone concentration and its yield were higher at first cut, whereas the concentration of (+)-menthofuran and its yield were higher at second cut. N rate at 160 kg/ha significantly increased peppermint dry biomass weight and oil yield at cut 2. Our results indicated that peppermint productivity and its essential oil composition in Mississippi could be altered by cutting dates and N application rates.
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