Articles
SALVIA OFFICINALIS: INFLUENCE OF CUTTING FREQUENCY, CUTTING HEIGHT AND DATE OF THE LAST HARVEST BEFORE WINTER
Article number
826_2
Pages
25 – 30
Language
English
Abstract
Common sage (Salvia officinalis L.) is one of the aromatic plants most cultivated in Switzerland.
In order to guarantee an optimal sage harvest, the cutting frequency as well as the cutting height and date of the last harvest before winter were analysed.
These trials were conducted in mountain areas of Switzerland from 2003 to 2006. With 3 cuts per year, the yield in dry material and in essential oil, as well as the leaves rate and the resistance to winter frost were higher than with 2 cuts.
A last harvest early before winter, at the beginning of September, strengthened the resistance to winter frost only for the process with 3 harvests per year.
With a cut at 15 cm for the last harvest, there were significantly fewer damages caused by winter frost than with a low cut at 5 cm.
At contrary, the higher cut favoured the formation of floral stems.
Shortening the stubbles to about a length of 5 cm in early spring considerably reduced the formation of floral stems, not wanted for the sage.
In conclusion, 3 harvests per year with a last cut at the latest towards the beginning of September at a height of 15 cm, followed by a stubbles shortening to about 5 cm in the spring favours the productivity, persistence and quality of the sage in mountain areas.
In order to guarantee an optimal sage harvest, the cutting frequency as well as the cutting height and date of the last harvest before winter were analysed.
These trials were conducted in mountain areas of Switzerland from 2003 to 2006. With 3 cuts per year, the yield in dry material and in essential oil, as well as the leaves rate and the resistance to winter frost were higher than with 2 cuts.
A last harvest early before winter, at the beginning of September, strengthened the resistance to winter frost only for the process with 3 harvests per year.
With a cut at 15 cm for the last harvest, there were significantly fewer damages caused by winter frost than with a low cut at 5 cm.
At contrary, the higher cut favoured the formation of floral stems.
Shortening the stubbles to about a length of 5 cm in early spring considerably reduced the formation of floral stems, not wanted for the sage.
In conclusion, 3 harvests per year with a last cut at the latest towards the beginning of September at a height of 15 cm, followed by a stubbles shortening to about 5 cm in the spring favours the productivity, persistence and quality of the sage in mountain areas.
Authors
C. Carlen, C.A. Carron, S. Previdoli, C. Baroffio
Keywords
essential oil, flowering, sage, winterhardiness, yield
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