Biomass and essential oil production of mint in hydroponic system as a function of nitrogen and phosphorus

An experiment was carried out, using a hydroponic system to study the effect of plant nutrition regimes on the plant growth and the production of essential oils in Mentha piperita (mint). Plants were grown in nutrient solutions with varying levels of N and P: 120 and 16; 60 and 16; 120 and 4; 60 and 4, mg L-1 of N and P in the treatments 1; 2; 3 and 4 respectively. Plants of the treatment 4 (29 days after starting the treatments, DAT) presented the highest production of essential oils. However, plants presented the highest biomass production at 64 DAT. The higher the N levels in the nutrient solution, the lower the production of essential oils. Higher N inputs resulted in higher total biomass. There was a negative relationship between the plant cycle and the production of essential oils. Mint plants grown in hydroponics systems can be harvested at 29 DAT for the production of essentials oils, saving time and costs of production.