Effects of various fertilizer mixture applications and reaping time on volatile compounds of thyme (Thymus sipyleus BOISS. subsp. sipyleus BOISS. var. sipyleus L.)

The thyme (Thymus sipyleus BOISS. subsp. sipyleus BOISS. var. sipyleus L.) plant was rooted from its natural environment at an altitude of 1 750 m from Beyşehir Muslu Yayla location and was cultured at 1 345 m altitude in Beyşehir İslibucak. Nitrogen + Phosphorus + Potassium (K1), Micro Elements (Boron + Copper + Iron + Manganese + Molybdenum + Zinc) (K3) and Nitrogen + Phosphorus + Potassium + Micro Elements (Boron + Copper + Iron + Manganese + Molybdenum + Zinc) (K2 and K4) was used as fertilizer mixtures for thyme production. Plant samples were harvested in three separate periods in August, September and October 2019 and SPME-GC-MS was used for the analysis of its volatile components. The highest value of p-cymene (43.76%) in the October harvest of thyme produced using K4 fertilizer mixture application, the highest value of γ-terpinene (24.79%) in the August harvest of thyme produced using K4 fertilizer mixture application, the highest value of thymol (20.26%) in the August harvest of thyme produced using K3 fertilizer mixture application and the highest value of carvacrol (67.01%) in the September harvest of thyme produced using K1 fertilizer mixture application were observed. The monoterpene compounds with 60.66% in the October harvest of thyme produced using K4 fertilizer mixture application, the sesquiterpene compounds with 11.52% in the September harvest of thyme (K0 control sample), and the alcohol compounds with 69.64% in the September harvest of thyme produced using K1 fertilizer mixture application reached the highest values. As a result, it was showed that the contents of volatile components and volatile component groups could be differentiated in the thyme plant harvested in different periods after using various fertilizer mixtures during production. Thus, a wide range of raw material content properties can be offered for the relevant industrial areas that accept thyme as a raw material.