Effect of Bio and Chemical Fertilizers on the Essential Oil Content and Constituents of Melissa officinalis (Lemon Balm)

Considering the importance of medicinal plants growth and biological application of fertilizers with sustainable agricultural production in order to eliminate or reduce chemical input to achieve desirable and sustainable quality, an experimental research was conducted based on a factorial on basis of randomized complete block design with 18 treatments and three replication in 2013. Factors including: Vermicompost at three levels (0, 15 and 30% V/Pot), two levels of biophosphate (treated and untreated) and three levels of chemical fertilizers (0, 250 and 500 mg/pot). The results showed that the essential oil content of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) and its constituents were significantly affected by treatments. The most significant essential oil content (0.271 %) was obtained by applying 30% V/Pot vermicompost. Fifteen compounds were identified in the essential oils of M. officinalis. Main constituents of the essential oil are citronellal, -caryophyllene, neral, geranial and geranyl acetate. The maximum citronellal content in essential oil (49.4% and 47.8%) were obtained with C0 (no chemical fertilizers), and V2 (30% V/Pot vermicompost), respectively. The highest geranial contents (19.818% and 18.902%) was obtained with C2, 500 mg chemical fertilizer, and V2, applying 30% V/Pot vermicompost, respectively and the highest geranyl acetate content (1.962%) was obtained with V2 (30% V/ Pot vermicompost). -caryophyllene and content in essential oil was not affected by treatments. The results of current experiment showed that vermicompost and biophosphate have stimulatory effects on the quantity and quality of the essential oil in lemon balm and thus have considerable potential for providing nutritional elements in essential oil production of lemon balm, especially for the sustainable production systems.