Effect of different irrigation water quality and irrigation levels on yield and quality parameters of oregano (Origanum onites L.)

In this research, a pot experiment of oregano (Origanum onites L.) was examined in a greenhouse which is only closed on the top at Akdeniz University Agriculture Faculty Research and Practice Fields, which is for determining the effects of irrigation water quality and irrigation regime on plants characteristics and other parameters. For this case, plants in the first experiment were irrigated with waters, which have different quality of salinity, while plants in the second experiment were irrigated with same quality waters but different quantity (irrigation level). During the experiment, water quality and water deficit effects on plants were monitored and at the end of the experiment, plants were analysed in regard to yield and quality including essential oil, total phenolic and flavonoid content, extract yield and antioxidant activity.It was concluded that, reduction in the amount of irrigation water applied to oregano plants caused a reduction in yield, but it was observed that there was not a significant differences in plants? quality parameters. When irrigation water salinity increases, in contrast of a reduction in yield parameters, it was confirmed that there is an increase in some quality parameters like extract yield, total phenolic and flavonoid content and antioxidant activity at a certain level, but above this level a decrease has occurred in this parameters. Effects of irrigation regime and irrigation salinity on oregano had presented first time in this work. Conclusions had shown that more detailed studies must be performed for some characteristics of oregano.