干旱区生态环境知识资源中心

Marrubium vulgare L. (Lamiaceae) is a perennial herb commonly known as "horehound" and grows wild in the Egyptian desert. We report the first systematic cultivation of this plant in Egypt for the estimation of optimal plant spacing and nitrogen dose. Three plant spacings were studied (25 cm, 35 cm and 50 cm apart within the row, 50 cm distance between the rows) and three nitrogen doses were applied (N1 (80 kg N ha(-1)), N2 (120 kg N ha(-1)) and N3 (160 kg N ha(-1))) in two experiments. The maximum mean values of plant height were obtained with a plant-spacing of 35 cm. The lowest number of branches and fresh and dry weight of plants were observed with the 25 cm plant spacing. Nitrogen fertilization had a significant effect on most of the agronomic parameters studied. N2 exhibited the best growth attributes, although the differences between N2 and N3 were not significant in most harvests. On the other hand, oil content was not influenced by plant spacing or nitrogen fertilization in the three harvests. A plant spacing of 35 cm and a N2 rate of nitrogen application resulted in the best horehound plant growth.