The investigation of different row spaces and harvest times on the yield and quality of essential oil of valerian (Valeriana officinalis L. ) grown in Çukurova region

ABSTRACTPhD. THESISTHE INVESTIGATION OF DIFFERENT ROW SPACES AND HARVESTTIMES ON THE YIELD AND QUALITY OF ESSENTIAL OIL OFVALERIAN (Valeriana officinalis L.) GROWN IN CUKUROVA REGIOND. Alpaslan KAYACUKUROVA UNIVERSITYINSTITUTE OF NATURAL AND APPLIED SCIENCESDEPARTMENT OF FIELD CROPSSupervisor : Prof. Dr. Saliha KIRICIYear : 2006Page :114Jury : Prof. Dr. Saliha KIRICI: Prof. Dr. Menşure ÖZGÜVEN: Prof. Dr. E. Sultan G RAY: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Abdulhabip ÖZEL: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ahmet MERTThis study was carried out to determine the effects of different row spacesand harvest times on yield and quality of valerian essential oil grown in Cukurovaregion at Cukurova University, Agriculture Faculty, Field Crops Department dryland experimental fields in 2003-2004 and 2004-2005. The field trials were arrangedin split-split plot experimental design with three replicates. Varieties (Anton andMehrfahrig) were main plots, harvest times (June and July) were subplots and sub-subplots were row spaces (25 cm, 50 cm and 75 cm).In this study, it was determined that Valeriana officinalis L. could be growneasily in Cukurova region, the cultivar Anton was more suitable for dry root yield forthis region, the highest value was obtained 25 cm row spaces (3.31 t/ha). It wasfound that the yield of essential oil optimum harvest time was June and row spaceswas 25 cm. Seventy-nine components were characterized in valerian dry roots whichgrown in Cukurova region. Consequently, it was determined that main componentswere Bornyl acetate (14.8-30.8 %), Valerenal (8.4-19.7 %), Camphene (1.6-12.4 %),Cedran-diol (1.3-9.8 %), Spathulenol (2.2-9.0 %), α-Pinene (2.7-6.5 %) ve Fenchene(3.2-6.1 %) respectively in both varieties.Keywords: Valerian, Valeriana officinalis L., Agronomical Properties, Yield,Quality of Essential Oil, GC-MS analysis.