Organic manure sources play fundamental roles in growth and quali-quantitative production of essential oil from Dysphania ambrosioides L.

Abstract

Dysphania ambrosioides L. is a medicinal species used worldwide, mainly as an anthelmintic. In Brazil, this species is listed on the National List of Medicinal Plants of Interest to the National Health System. Studies on management, cultivation, and nutrition are incipient for this species. The present study tested the effect of different doses (0, 3, 6, 9, and 12 kg m−2) of three organic manures (cattle, chicken, and quail manure) on plant biomass production and the content, yield, and chemical composition of the essential oil from D. ambrosioides L. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse for 60 days. The doses of cattle, chicken, and quail manure influenced the plants’ dry weight production and the content, yield, and chemical composition of the D. ambrosioides L. essential oil. Fertilization with poultry manure (quail or chicken) increased the plant growth more than did the cattle manure. Higher dry weights were obtained after incorporating 6 to 9 kg m−2 of quail manure or 9 to 12 kg m−2 of chicken manure. Higher essential oil content was extracted from the inflorescences than the leaves. The highest contents of essential oil in the leaves were obtained when using 3 to 6 kg m−2 of cattle manure or 3 to 12 kg m−2 of chicken manure. The 12 kg m−2 dose of cattle manure increased the oil content extracted from the inflorescences. The highest oil yields were obtained using 12 kg m−2 of cattle manure, 6 to 12 kg m−2 of chicken manure or 9 kg m−2 of quail manure. Using quail manure increased the ascaridole content in the leaves, while using chicken manure increased the ascaridole content in the inflorescences.