Response of Lippia sidoides to different irrigation depths

Abstract

Evaluating the response of medicinal plants to irrigation is not very common, especially when they are native species with economic potential, such as the Lippia sidoides. Thus, this study aimed at evaluating the Lippia sidoides response, by using the Ky coefficient, and growth, under different irrigation depths. The coefficients were determined from the dry matter and essential oil yields. The experiment used a randomized blocks design, with treatments consisting of seven irrigation depths (0.5, 0.75, 1.0, 1.2, 1.4, 1.65 and 1.9 of the Eto), with three replications. The ETo was evaluated by using the Penman-Monteith method and the ETr according to the soil water balance. Growth was determined by measuring the stem diameter and height, at 35, 56, 77, 98 and 119 days after transplanting. At 120 days of cultivation, samples were collected to determine the dry matter and essential oil yields. The plant responded to water deficit with coefficients above 1.0, for both dry matter and essential oil yields. Growth was positively affected by irrigation, reaching higher values for stem diameter and height when the highest irrigation depths were used.