Effect of irrigation and nitrogen on herbage, oil yield and water use of lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus) on alfisols

A field experiment was conducted with lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus) at Bangalore, India during 1993-95 under three oil moisture regimes (0.75, 0.50 and 0.25) irrigation water:cumulative pan evaporation (IW:CPE) ratios and four rates of nitrogen application (0, 50, 100 and 150 kg ha(-1)). The soil moisture regime maintained at 0.75 IW:CPE ratio significantly increased crop growth characters such as plant height, leaf area index, herbage and essential oil yields, compared with those having 0.25 and 0.50 IW:CPE ratios. An application of 100 kg N ha(-1) was found to be optimal for crop yield. Oil content and quality of oil were not affected by irrigation and nitrogen rates.