Influence of the organic and mineral fertilization on the growth of <i>Hyptis suaveolens</i> (L.) Poit. (Lamiaceae)

Abstract

The species Hyptis suaveolens (L.) Poit. is considered to be a plant of high therapeutic potential. The use of this medicinal species is very common in Brazil, but little information exists about its behavior under cultivation for agricultural purposes, because several factors may affect biomass production
and metabolic products of these plants. The objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of the organic and mineral fertilization on the growth of Hyptis suaveolens (L.) Poit. The experiment was conduted in greenhouse conditions. The experimental design was completely randomized, with six treatments (unfertilized control, mineral fertilization, cattle manure, chicken manure, vermicompost and organic compost), with four replicates and four plants for each repetition. Plant growth was evaluated by measurements of height, stem diameter, branches number and dry matter of leaves, branches and roots. The results showed that plants of Hyptis suaveolens presented good response to the applied mineral and organic fertilizers, except for cattle manure. The best development, however, was obtained by plants fertilized with chicken manure.