Comparing different soil fertility systems in Sage (Salvia officinalis) under water deficiency

Sage is a popular medicinal plant which is widely used in cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries. A two years study was conducted to study the effects of different fertility systems on growth and essential oil production of sage under water deficiency. For this purpose, we used a randomized complete block design arranged in split plots with three replications. The maximum of dry matter (2.702 ± 0.15 t ha−1), essential oil content (1.86 ± 0.10%) and essential oil yield (37.30 ± 3.83 l ha−1) were obtained in I1 (no stress), I2 (moderate water deficit), and I2 (moderate water deficit), respectively. The highest of dry matter, essential oil content and essential oil yield were obtained in F5 (Vermicompost + N fixing bacteria). Totally, 48 compounds were identified in essential oils of sage by means of GC-MS. 1,8-cineol, α-thujone and camphor were the dominant essential oil compounds which indicated an increasing under I2, F5 and I2 × F5 treatments among the three times harvest.