Yield and Essential Oil Response in Coriander to Water Stress and Phosphorus Fertilizer Application

Abstract

Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) contains essential oil, and various extracts from the seeds possess anti-bacterial, antioxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-cancerous and anti-mutagenic activities. Field experiments were carried out to study the effect of phosphorus (P) fertilization (0, 12 and 24 kg∙ha-2 P) on the seed yield, and volatile oil of Egyptian cultivar of coriander under water stress conditions. The oil was obtained by hydrodistillation extraction method using Clevenger apparatus. Chemical analysis of the oil was done by using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Increasing water amounts and P fertilization rates increased plant height, number of branches, number of umbels and seed yield. Essential oil yields increased significantly with increasing water regimes from 50% to 100% of ET crop. Irrigation applied at 100% of crop water need, combined with 24 kg∙ha-2 P, gave the best seed and oil yields results. Coriander plants have high water use efficiency (WUE) at 50% ET crop, and 24 kg∙ha-2 P whilst irrigation at 100% ET crop without any phosphorus application gave the lowest WUE. Concerning essential oil constituents, linalool was the major compound in coriander fruits.