Thesis (MScAgric (Agronomy)--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / An increase in the demand of buchu (Agathosma betulina) oil has lead to an increase in the commercial cultivation of buchu in fields and also in hydroponic systems. A nutrient solution for hydroponically grown buchu is still required to ensure optimal growth and yield. ASNAPP (Agribusiness in Sustainable Natural African Plant Products) South Africa has done some trials to achieve optimal EC and pH in the nutrient solution. Phosphate concentrations in the nutrient solution might play a significant role due to reports by a variety of researchers on the sensitivity of Protea plants to phosphate. Buchu and Proteas are both part of the Fynbos biome and are found in regions with similar soil (sandy soils with a low pH and mineral contents) and climatic conditions. Two separate experiments were conducted to determine the effect of increasing phosphate concentrations (ranging from 0.00 to 1.40 me L-1) in the nutrient solution on buchu growth. The first experiment was done in a plastic covered structure with a pad and fan and the objective of this trial was to determine the effect of increasing phosphate concentrations in the nutrient solution on the general growth, biomass production, oil composition, mortality rate and chemical composition of the buchu plants. The second experiment was done in a glasshouse with mechanical temperature control and the aim of this trial was to determine the response of buchu to increasing concentrations of P at two different root temperatures. A chemical analysis of the plants was done and the general growth, yield and root mass were recorded to determine the response of buchu plants to the phosphate and temperature treatments. In the greenhouse experiment an optimum growth and yield response of buchu plants was found at a phosphate concentration of 0.7 me L-1 in the nutrient solution. Phosphate concentrations lower or higher than 0.7 me L-1 lead to a decrease in growth and yield. An increase in the phosphate concentration in the nutrient solution lead to a general increase in N, P, K, Ca, Mg and B content in the buchu plants and a decrease in Fe content. The mortality rate of the buchu plants increased with an increase in the phosphate concentration from 0.0 to 1.4 me L-1 in the nutrient solution. The phosphate concentration in the nutrient solution only made a significant difference on one major component of the buchu oil which was Ψ-Diosphenol, but no general trend with Ψ-Diosphenol content and P concentration could be found and the significant difference in Ψ-Diosphenol observed in this trial may only have been due to genetic variation between the plants. The effect of the different root temperatures in the glasshouse experiment was very clear. The buchu plants grown at the high root temperature (20°C) produced a higher yield and better overall growth than the plants grown at lower (10°C) temperatures. The buchu plants grown at 20°C had a significantly higher N, K, Na and B content than plants grown at 10°C. Buchu plants grown at 10°C showed no significant response in terms of growth and yield to the phosphate concentration in the nutrient solution, but plants grown at 20°C exhibited growth and yield peaks at phosphate concentrations of 0.35 and 1.4 me L-1. The peak observed in the plants growth at high phosphate concentrations is unexplainable and can possibly be ascribed to the limitation of the plants per experimental unit and/or amount of replications. The increase in P concentration in the nutrient solution caused a general increase in N, P and K content in the buchu plants. A significant interaction between the phosphate concentration and root temperature was observed for the P, Mn en Zn contents of the plants which meant that the buchu plants respond differently towards phosphate concentrations at different root temperatures.

Thesis (MScAgric (Agronomy)--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / The Cape Floristic Region is a highly distinctive phytogeographical unit which is recognized as a floral Kingdom on its own. Buchu (Agathosma betulina) plants fall under this important Kingdom. Buchu is one of the traditional medicinal plants originating in the Western Cape province of South Africa and the essential oil derived from the leaves is exported in large volumes. Due to high demand, under supply, restrictions of wild harvesting and high prices for Buchu essential oil, growers have started to introduce and commercialize this species as a crop. This commercialization of Buchu necessitated agronomic research to optimize production techniques. The objective of this study was to determine the optimum pH range for the cultivation of high yielding Buchu with acceptable essential oil quality under controlled conditions and compare this with the conditions in the natural habitat. Plant, soil and climatic data were gathered from eleven sites in the natural habitat of Buchu (A. betulina) in the Cederberg Mountains. At all sites most rainfall occurred from May to September, while high temperatures were recorded in summer. Soil analyses indicated low levels of nutrients and low soil pH, ranging from 3.7 to 5.3 at all the sites studied. Low levels of nutrients were also obtained from foliar analysis collected from plants at each of the different sites. Chemical analyses of the essential oil indicated that the plants were from a high quality diosphenol chemotype. In the greenhouse experiment, five different pH levels (pH 33.99, 4-4.99, 5-5.99, 6-6.99 and 7-7.99) were evaluated to determine the effect on growth, yield and quality of A. betulina. Complete nutrient solutions were used to irrigate the plants grown in pots filled with a sand and coco peat mixture. Although the plants subjected to the pH treatment of 4-4.99 tended to have the highest growth rate and yield, this did not differ significantly (P=0.05) from plants subjected to pH values between 3 and 6.99. In contrast, the pH 7-7.99 treatment lead to reduced growth and lower vegetative yields. Levels of nutrients obtained from the leaf mineral analysis differed significantly with different pH treatments. High pH levels resulted in high nitrogen, phosphorus, sodium, manganese and boron contents, but lower contents of copper. Nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium and zinc were higher than those recorded for plants from their natural habitat, but still within the norm reported for most plants. Levels of manganese, sodium, magnesium and copper were found to be more or less similar to the values obtained in plants from the natural habitat. No significant differences were found in essential oil quality in response to the pH treatments. However, high pulegone levels (10.8 to 13.2 %) were obtained from all the treatments in the greenhouse experiment. The high levels of this essential oil constituent could have a negative effect on the marketability of the oil and this aspect may need some attention in future studies.