Rose-scented geranium (Pelargonium capitatum x P. radens) belongs to the family Geraniaceae and it is a multi-harvest, high value, commercially important essential oil yielding aromatic plant. The essential oil extracted from the herbage of the plant is widely used in the fragrance and cosmetics industry and scenting of soaps. The essential oil is extracted by steam distillation. South Africa is now producing significant quantities of geranium oil. However, previous experience by this research group showed that seedlings often take long to establish, resulting in high death rates and sometimes poor growth after establishment. Stunted growth and yellowing of leaves was also observed in some cases. Poor vegetative growth causes low herbage yield and, consequently, low total essential oil production per hectare. Poor growth is believed to be due to a combination of factors, including nutrient deficiencies and acidic soil conditions and has not been studied under South Africa condition. Production of the crop is also reported to respond differently to rate and source of nutrition in various agro-ecological regions of the world. Therefore, field trials were conducted at the Hatfield Experimental Farm, University of Pretoria, in order to investigate how the plant responds to agronomic practices, such as source and amount of nitrogen, time of N fertilizer application, season of N fertilization and liming. Response of rose-scented geranium to source and amount of N showed that, at the first harvest (summer/autumn), there was no significant effect of conventional N on fresh herbage and oil yield, probably due to leaching of N by rainfall. However, organic N at 100 kg•ha-1 increased fresh herbage and oil yields by 58% and 48% over the control, respectively. In the second harvest (spring/summer), fresh herbage yield increased by 46% (conventional N) and 60% (organic N) at 100 kg•ha-1 compared to the control. Compared to the control, 100 kg•ha-1 conventional and organic N also increased essential oil yields by 94% and 129%, respectively. For both N sources nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and LAI decreased with an increase in N level, and organic N gave highest essential oil production efficiency and LAI. Essential oil content (% fresh mass basis) also varied between the harvests, being greater in the second harvest (September to December 2005; spring/summer) than the first harvest (February to May 2005; summer/autumn). This was due to environmental variations that occurred between the harvesting periods. N level and source were found to have no noticeable effect on essential oil composition. This study revealed that rose-scented geranium produced higher fresh herbage and essential oil yield when organic fertilizer was used as a source of N. Nitrogen management in terms of rate and time of application is important in rose-scented geranium production. Delaying nitrogen topdressing (conventional N in the form of LAN; N 28%) after harvest to between the 7th and 9th week after cut back, was found to have a significant positive effect on biomass and essential oil production. Essential oil content of the plant did not show any response to a delay in nitrogen topdressing. A delay in nitrogen topdressing, in the first re-growth resulted into a lower citronellol to geraniol (C:G) ratio, which favour essential oil quality of the crop. Generally, the characteristics of the essential oil were within the internationally acceptable range for rose-scented geranium essential oil. In addition, production of rose-scented geranium during cooler periods is not advisable due to limited biomass production which might encourage leaching of nitrogen. The net benefits from N application is dependent on the growing period and in the present study spring and summer were more beneficial than winter and autumn. Organic N at 100 kg•ha-1•year-1 increased herbage and essential oil yield of the crop in spring and summer but further increases in organic or conventional N levels had no significant effect. N application either in winter or autumn did not improve production of the crop. Application of more N than what is required for optimum growth of the plant had no positive effect on essential oil production. Application of organic N also resulted in higher N use efficiency than conventional N. The essential oil contents (% fresh mass basis) achieved in the present study generally fell within the range of 0.04 to 0.2%. Citronellol and geraniol concentration (%), were at peak in spring season followed by summer and autumn and lowest in winter. The ratio between these two components (C:G ratio) is also used as an indicator of rose-scented geranium essential oil quality and most desirable (low C:G ratio) essential oil was attained in spring, summer and autumn harvesting seasons and least desirable oil was attained in winter. The relationship between SPAD-502 chlorophyll meter readings (SPAD units) and leaf N content (% dry weight basis) was a quadratic function. SPAD-502 chlorophyll meter readings (SPAD units) matched well with that of leaf N concentration data of rose-scented geranium. Regardless of the factors that affect the readings, this instrument can be used as an indicator of leaf N status of rose-scented geranium. Soil pH above 5.5 and soil base saturation above 55% increased fresh herbage and essential oil yield (per ha), which corresponded in this case with 2 to 6 t•ha-1 of lime application. Oil content (%) was not significantly affected by application of lime. Therefore, optimum growth of rose-scented geranium can be achieved by application of lime when plants are grown on acidic soils, but without any effect on oil content and essential oil composition. It can be concluded that N rate, source and season of production and soil pH should be considered to ensure optimal rose-scented geranium production. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Plant Production and Soil Science / PhD / Unrestricted

Lippia sidoides Cham (alecrim pimenta) é uma planta medicinal e aromática nativa do nordeste brasileiro, se extrai o óleo essencial para uso bactericida, fungicida, moluscida e larvicida. O presente trabalho avaliou o efeito da idade de corte, horário de colheita e condições para as plantas de Lippia sidoides Cham. sobre a produção do seu óleo essencial nas condições da região sul do Tocantins. A extração do óleo essencial foi realizada por hidrodestilação em aparelho Clevenger, pelo tempo de uma hora e vinte minutos igualmente para todas as amostras. Foram realizados três experimentos. No experimento 1, comparou-se a produção de óleo essencial das plantas aos 90, 120, 150, 180, 210 e 240 DAT. No experimento 2, comparou-se o teor do óleo de amostras de folhas colhidas nos horários de 0, 4, 8, 12, 16 e 20 horas. E, no experimento 3, comparou-se o teor de óleo essencial em função de temperatura (30, 40 e 50ºC) e tempo de secagem (24, 48 e 72 horas). A tendência de maior teor de óleo seria em torno dos 87,5 DAT, diminuindo para cortes anteriores ou posteriores a esta. Os maiores valores para massa seca situando-se aos 210 DAT seguindo-se a tendência de redução desta variável a partir do citado período. Os maiores valores de produtividade de óleo essencial por planta ocorrem em torno dos 220 DAT, evidenciando essa data como a de tendência de maior produtividade. Conclui-se, que aos 220 dias após o transplantio ocorre uma produção de 5,75 g de óleo essencial por planta, alcançado a produtividade de óleo essencial de 57,5 kg ha-1. O tempo na secagem não influenciou no teor de óleo essencial. Porém a temperatura de 40 °C proporciona máxima conservação do óleo essencial de Lippia sidoides Cham. e consequentemente maior teor do mesmo. / Lippia sidoides Cham. (Rosemary pepper) is a native medicinal and aromatic plant in northeastern Brazil, extract the essential oil for use bactericide, fungicide, molluscicide and larvicide. This study evaluated the effect of cutting age, harvest time and conditions for the plant Lippia sidoides Cham. on the production of essential oil in the conditions of southern Tocantins region. The essential oil extraction was performed by hydrodistillation in Clevenger apparatus, the time of one hour and twenty minutes for all samples equally. Three experiments were conducted. In one experiment, we compared the production of essential oil from plants at 90, 120, 150, 180, 210 and 240 DAT. In experiment 2, compared the leaf samples Oil content collected at the times of 0, 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20 hours. And in experiment 3 compared the essential oil content in function of temperature (30, 40 and 50 ° C) and drying time (24, 48 and 72 hours). The tendency to higher oil content would be around 87.5 DAT decreasing to previous cuts or subsequent thereto. The highest values for dry mass standing at 210 DAT followed the downward trend of this variable from that period. The largest essential oil yield per plant values occur around 220 DAT, showing that date as the greater productivity trend. It follows that to 220 days after transplanting is a production of 5.75 g of essential oil per plant, achieved the essential oil yield of 57.5 kg ha-1. The drying time did not influence the essential oil content. However, the temperature of 40 ° C provides maximum conservation of essential oil of Lippia sidoides Cham. and consequently higher content thereof.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The increasing demand for drugs in Brazil brings us to the improvement in cultivation of medicinal plants, that amount plus the quality is recommended. This study aimed to evaluate the growth, development, essential oil production as well as gas exchange and physiological parameters in Aloysia triphylla under different water availability throughout the four seasons. The experiment was conducted in greenhouse belonging to the agroclimatology laboratory of the UFSM campus of Frederico Westphalen - RS, in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Evaluations were made on the day that marked the half of each season (summer, autumn, winter and spring), and all plant material collected 20 cm above ground. The water availability (DH) was based on the reference evapotranspiration to the external environment being applied 125, 100, 75 and 50% of ETo in an irrigation interval of two days, totaling a blade 1620.06, 1304.05; 988 , 03 and 672.02 mm. year-1, respectively. The production of biomass, height and indirect measurement of chlorophyll (SPAD) had linear and cubic responses to water availability, being negative to reduce it. The effect of seasonality reveals that the spring season has growth and biomass production stronger, surpassing all other stations, while the winter was responsible for lower growth and production. The essential oil content was positively affected by water availability, being the depth of the highest yield of 75 and 50% of ETo respectively. The seasons summer and winter detained the highest content of essential oil in the leaves. And the variables which comprise plant gas exchange with the atmosphere, perspiration was lower due to the reduction of DH, thus promoting a greater stomatal resistance and increased temperature of the sheet, and the abaxial responsible for most of the total transpiration plant. / A crescente demanda por fármacos no Brasil nos remete ao aperfeiçoamento nas práticas de cultivo de plantas medicinais, para que além de quantidade a qualidade seja preconizada. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o crescimento, desenvolvimento, produção de óleo essencial, bem como trocas gasosas e parâmetros fisiológicos em Aloysia triphylla submetida a diferentes disponibilidades hídricas ao longo das quatro estações do ano. O experimento foi conduzido em estufa plástica pertencente ao laboratório de agroclimatologia da UFSM campus de Frederico Westphalen RS, sob um delineamento experimental de blocos completos casualizados com quatro repetições. As avaliações foram realizadas no dia que marcou a metade de cada estação do ano (verão, outono, inverno e primavera), sendo coletado todo o material vegetativo 20 cm acima do solo. A disponibilidade hídrica (DH) foi baseada na evapotranspiração de referência para o ambiente externo sendo aplicados 125, 100, 75 e 50% da ETo em um turno de rega de dois dias, totalizando uma lâmina de 1620,06; 1304,05; 988,03 e 672,02 mm. ano-1, respectivamente. A produção de biomassa, a altura e a medida indireta de clorofila (SPAD) apresentaram respostas lineares e cúbicas a disponibilidade hídrica, sendo negativo para redução da mesma. O efeito da sazonalidade nos revela que a estação primavera apresenta crescimento e produção de biomassa mais vigorosa, superando as demais estações, ao passo que o inverno foi responsável pelo menor crescimento e produção. O teor de óleo essencial foi afetado positivamente pela disponibilidade hídrica, sendo a lâmina de maior rendimento a de 75 e 50 % da ETo respectivamente. As estações do ano verão e inverno detiveram os maiores teores de óleo essencial nas folhas. Quanto as variáveis que compreendem as trocas gasosas da planta com a atmosfera, a transpiração foi menor em função da redução da DH, promovendo consequentemente uma maior resistência estomática e aumento da temperatura da folha, sendo a face abaxial responsável pela maior parte da transpiração total da planta.

Introducing effective irrigation management in arid and semi-arid regions, like most areas of South Africa, is an indispensable way of maximising crop yield and enhancing productivity of scarce freshwater resources. Holistic improvements in agricultural water management could be realised through integrating the knowledge of crop-specific water requirements. In order to develop effective irrigation schedules for rose-scented geranium (Pelargonium capitatum x P. radens), greenhouse and field experiments were conducted at the Hatfield Experimental Farm of the University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa, from 28 October 2004 to 2006. Results from 20, 40, 60 and 80% maximum allowable depletion (MAD) levels of the plant available soil water (ASW) indicated that plant roots extracted most of the soil water from the top 40 cm soil layer, independent of the treatment. Both essential oil yield and fresh herbage mass responded positively to high soil water content. Increasing the MAD level to 60% and higher resulted in a significant reduction in herbage mass and essential oil yields. An increase in the degree of water stress apparently increased the essential oil concentration (percentage oil on fresh herbage mass basis), but its contribution to total essential oil yield (kg/ha oil) was limited. There was no significant relationship between MAD level and essential oil composition. For water saving without a significant reduction in essential oil yield of rose-scented geranium, a MAD of 40% of ASW is proposed. Response of rose-scented geranium to a one-month irrigation withholding period in the second or third month of regrowth cycles showed that herbage mass and oil yield were positively related. Herbage yield was significantly reduced when the water stress period was imposed during the third or fourth month of regrowth. A remarkable essential oil yield loss was observed only when the plants were stressed during the fourth month of regrowth. Essential oil content (% oil on fresh herbage mass basis) was higher in stressed plants, especially when stressed late, but oil yield dropped due to lower herbage mass. The relationship between essential oil composition and irrigation treatments was not consistent. Water-use efficiency was not significantly affected by withholding irrigation in the second or in the third month of regrowth. With a marginal oil yield loss, about 330 to 460 m3 of water per hectare per regrowth cycle could be saved by withholding irrigation during the third month of regrowth. The overall results highlighted that in water-scarce regions withholding irrigation during either the second or the third month of regrowth in rose-scented geranium could save water that could be used by other sectors of society. In greenhouse pot experiments, rose-scented geranium was grown under different irrigation frequencies, in two growth media. Irrigation was withheld on 50% of the plants (in each plot) for the week prior to harvesting. Herbage and essential oil yields were better in the sandy clay soil than in silica sand. Essential oil content (% oil on fresh herbage mass basis) apparently increased with a decrease in irrigation frequency. Both herbage and total essential oil yields positively responded to frequent irrigation. A one-week stress period prior to harvesting significantly increased essential oil content and total essential oil yield. Hence, the highest essential oil yield was obtained from a combination of high irrigation frequency and a one-week irrigation-withholding period. In the irrigation frequency treatments, citronellol and citronellyl formate contents tended to increase with an increase in the stress level, but the reverse was true for geraniol and geranyl formate. Leaf physiological data were recorded during the terminal one-week water stress in the glasshouse pot trial. Upon rewatering, stomatal conductance (Gs) and transpiration rate (Rt) were significantly lower in the less often irrigated than in the more often irrigated treatments, while leaf water potential (yw) and relative water content (RWC) were the same for all plants, indicating that water stress had an after-effect on Gs and Rt. At the end of the stress period, Gs, Rt, yw and RWC were lower in the plants from the more often irrigated than from the less often irrigated treatments. Irrespective of irrigation treatment, one type of non-glandular and two types (different in shape and size) of glandular trichomes were observed. In water stressed-conditions, stomata and trichome densities increased, while the total number of stomata and trichomes per leaf appeared to remain more or less the same. Water stress conditions resulted in stomatal closure. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Plant Production and Soil Science / unrestricted

<p>&nbsp;Acorus calamus L. је вишегодишња зељаста биљка влажних подручја, чија су лековита својства одавно позната. Дрогу иђирота чини ризом који се употребљава као чај, прах, сок, гел, уље или крема. Због прекомерне експлоатације и високог степена угрожености ове дивље лековите биљне врсте у Србији је уведена забрана његовог сакупљања из природе. Да би се задовољила повећана потражња од стране индустрија које га користе, гајење иђирота се намеће као једно од најпрагматичнијих решења. За потребе утврђивање начина гајења, прво се приступило истраживању услова успевања и варирање својстава иђирота са пет локалитета природних станишта: Обедска бара, Делиблатска пешчара, Засавица, Раковац и Дубовац. Потом је заснован двогодишњи пољски оглед на ком је испитиван утицај примене основних агротехничких мера, односно густине садње и ђубрења азотом, на својства биљака. Оглед је постављен 2013. године, на подручју засеока Ћумуране у насељу Рипањ. Код биљка са природних станишта и са огледног поља праћена су следећа својства: висина биљака, дужина ризома, број и дужина бочних грана на ризому, број пупољака на ризому и бочним гранама, број нодуса на ризому и бочним гранама, проценат суве материје ризома, маса свежег и сувог ризома, однос масе свежег и сувог ризома. Код гајених биљака праћен је и принос свежег и сувог ризома. Код свих узорака иђирота испитиван је садржај и састав етарског уља из ризома. Идентификоване су, такође, најзаступљеније компоненте и утврђен је садржаја &beta;-азарона. За утврђивање нивоа плоидије популација из Србије рађено је пребројавање хромозома. Испитивањем биљака са природних станишта, констатовано је да на већину њихових морфолошких одлика, локалитет није имао утицаја. Утицај локалитета испољен је само на: број нодуса на ризому (највећи је био у Дубовцу - 58 а најмањи на Обедској бари - 15), проценат суве материје (највећи је био у Раковцу - 50,2%, а најмањи на Делиблатској пешчари - 37,9%) и однос масе свежег и сувог ризома (највећи је на Делиблатској пешчари - 2,64, а најмањи у Раковцу - 1,90). У пољском огледу добијени су следећи резултати: висина биљака је била највећа при најмањој густини усева (35000 биљака/ha) и најмањој дози азота (60 kg/ha) дужина ризома, као и број и дужина њихових бочних грана су највећи при средњој густини садње (48000 биљака/ha) и најмањој дози азота; број пупољака на ризому има највећу вредност при најмањој густини садње и најмањој дози азота. Број пупољака прве бочне гране је био највећи на највећој густини садње (62000 биљака/ha) и при најмањој дози азота, а број нодуса на ризому није зависио од густине садње, као ни од доза ђубрења. Највећа маса свежег и сувог ризома остварена је при средњој густини садње (48000 биљака/ha) и најмањој (62000 биљака/ha) дози азота, док је проценат суве материје био највећи при највећој густини и најмањој дози азота (60 kg/ha). На однос масе свежег и сувог ризома утицај нису имали ни ђубрење ни густина</p><p>садње усева, док су приноси свежег и сувог ризома били највећи на највећој густини садње и при најмањој дози азота. Садржај етарског уља иђирота из природе није показао значајна одступања између локалитета. Садржај етарског уља ризома гајеног иђирота опадао је са порастом густине садње, док различите дозе азота нису утицале на ову особину. Максимална концентрација &beta;-азарона у етарском уљу иђирота са природног станишта била је 17,07 % (локалитет Раковац), док је највећи садржај &beta;-азарона код гајеног иђирота био 21,41 %. Повећана концентрација &beta;- азарона се објашњава интензивнијим метаболизмом азота, због повећане количине из ђубрива. обијени резултати потврђују да је концентрација &beta;-азарона у етарском уљу ризома иђирота слична резултатима из других земаља Европе. Бројањем хромозома утврђено је да иђирот припада триплоидном, европском варијетету Аcоrus cаlаmus vаr. cаlаmus.</p> / <p>&nbsp;Acorus calamus L. je višegodišnja zeljasta biljka vlažnih područja, čija su lekovita svojstva odavno poznata. Drogu iđirota čini rizom koji se upotrebljava kao čaj, prah, sok, gel, ulje ili krema. Zbog prekomerne eksploatacije i visokog stepena ugroženosti ove divlje lekovite biljne vrste u Srbiji je uvedena zabrana njegovog sakupljanja iz prirode. Da bi se zadovoljila povećana potražnja od strane industrija koje ga koriste, gajenje iđirota se nameće kao jedno od najpragmatičnijih rešenja. Za potrebe utvrđivanje načina gajenja, prvo se pristupilo istraživanju uslova uspevanja i variranje svojstava iđirota sa pet lokaliteta prirodnih staništa: Obedska bara, Deliblatska peščara, Zasavica, Rakovac i Dubovac. Potom je zasnovan dvogodišnji poljski ogled na kom je ispitivan uticaj primene osnovnih agrotehničkih mera, odnosno gustine sadnje i đubrenja azotom, na svojstva biljaka. Ogled je postavljen 2013. godine, na području zaseoka Ćumurane u naselju Ripanj. Kod biljka sa prirodnih staništa i sa oglednog polja praćena su sledeća svojstva: visina biljaka, dužina rizoma, broj i dužina bočnih grana na rizomu, broj pupoljaka na rizomu i bočnim granama, broj nodusa na rizomu i bočnim granama, procenat suve materije rizoma, masa svežeg i suvog rizoma, odnos mase svežeg i suvog rizoma. Kod gajenih biljaka praćen je i prinos svežeg i suvog rizoma. Kod svih uzoraka iđirota ispitivan je sadržaj i sastav etarskog ulja iz rizoma. Identifikovane su, takođe, najzastupljenije komponente i utvrđen je sadržaja &beta;-azarona. Za utvrđivanje nivoa ploidije populacija iz Srbije rađeno je prebrojavanje hromozoma. Ispitivanjem biljaka sa prirodnih staništa, konstatovano je da na većinu njihovih morfoloških odlika, lokalitet nije imao uticaja. Uticaj lokaliteta ispoljen je samo na: broj nodusa na rizomu (najveći je bio u Dubovcu - 58 a najmanji na Obedskoj bari - 15), procenat suve materije (najveći je bio u Rakovcu - 50,2%, a najmanji na Deliblatskoj peščari - 37,9%) i odnos mase svežeg i suvog rizoma (najveći je na Deliblatskoj peščari - 2,64, a najmanji u Rakovcu - 1,90). U poljskom ogledu dobijeni su sledeći rezultati: visina biljaka je bila najveća pri najmanjoj gustini useva (35000 biljaka/ha) i najmanjoj dozi azota (60 kg/ha) dužina rizoma, kao i broj i dužina njihovih bočnih grana su najveći pri srednjoj gustini sadnje (48000 biljaka/ha) i najmanjoj dozi azota; broj pupoljaka na rizomu ima najveću vrednost pri najmanjoj gustini sadnje i najmanjoj dozi azota. Broj pupoljaka prve bočne grane je bio najveći na najvećoj gustini sadnje (62000 biljaka/ha) i pri najmanjoj dozi azota, a broj nodusa na rizomu nije zavisio od gustine sadnje, kao ni od doza đubrenja. Najveća masa svežeg i suvog rizoma ostvarena je pri srednjoj gustini sadnje (48000 biljaka/ha) i najmanjoj (62000 biljaka/ha) dozi azota, dok je procenat suve materije bio najveći pri najvećoj gustini i najmanjoj dozi azota (60 kg/ha). Na odnos mase svežeg i suvog rizoma uticaj nisu imali ni đubrenje ni gustina</p><p>sadnje useva, dok su prinosi svežeg i suvog rizoma bili najveći na najvećoj gustini sadnje i pri najmanjoj dozi azota. Sadržaj etarskog ulja iđirota iz prirode nije pokazao značajna odstupanja između lokaliteta. Sadržaj etarskog ulja rizoma gajenog iđirota opadao je sa porastom gustine sadnje, dok različite doze azota nisu uticale na ovu osobinu. Maksimalna koncentracija &beta;-azarona u etarskom ulju iđirota sa prirodnog staništa bila je 17,07 % (lokalitet Rakovac), dok je najveći sadržaj &beta;-azarona kod gajenog iđirota bio 21,41 %. Povećana koncentracija &beta;- azarona se objašnjava intenzivnijim metabolizmom azota, zbog povećane količine iz đubriva. obijeni rezultati potvrđuju da je koncentracija &beta;-azarona u etarskom ulju rizoma iđirota slična rezultatima iz drugih zemalja Evrope. Brojanjem hromozoma utvrđeno je da iđirot pripada triploidnom, evropskom varijetetu Acorus calamus var. calamus.</p> / <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;Acorus calamus L. is a perennial herbaceous plant found in wet areas, whose medicinal properties have been long known. The drug of sweet flag is made from the rhizome which is used as tea, powder, juice, gel, oil or cream. Because of overexploitation and the high degree of endangerment of this wild medicinal plant species in Serbia collecting was banned. In order to meet the increased demand for this plant by industries that use it, cultivation of sweet flag is emerging as one of the most pragmatic solutions. For the purpose of determining the method for plant growth, the first approach was studying the growing conditions and the variation of properties of sweet flag from five natural habitats: Obedska pond, Deliblato Sands, Zasavica, Rakovac and Dubovac.After that a two-year field experiment was designed in which the effect of application of basic agrotechnical measures, i.e., different planting density and doses of nitrogen fertilization on the plants, was studied. The experiment was set up in 2013, in the area of the hamlet Ćumurana in the settlement Ripanj. In plants from natural habitats and the experiment, the following properties were measured: the height of the plants, the length of the rhizome, the number and length of lateral branches on the rhizome, the number of buds on the rhizome and lateral branches, the number of leaf scars on the rhizome and lateral branches, the percentage of dry matter of the rhizome, the mass of the fresh and the dry rhizome, the ratio of mass between the fresh and the dry rhizome. In the experiment with cultivated plants, the yield of the fresh and the dry rhizome was also measured. For all samples of sweet flag, the content and composition of the essential oil from the rhizome was measured. Also, the main components were identified and the content of the &beta;-asarone was determined. For the purposes of identifying the ploidy, i.e., which varieties the sweet flag from Serbia belongs to, counting of chromosomes was done. By examining plants from natural habitats, it was noted that the site had no influence on the majority of morphological features of plants. The impact of the sites was manifested only in the number of leaf scars (the largest number was in Dubovac-58,0 and the smallest number was in Obedska pond-15,0), percentage of dry matter (the largest percentage was in Rakovac-50.2% and the smallest percentage was in Deliblato Sands-37,9 %) and the ratio of mass between a fresh and a dry rhizome (the largest ratio was in Deliblato Sands-2,6 and the smallest ratio was in Rakovac-2,2). In the field experiment, the following results were obtained: the height of the plants is the largest at the lowest planting density (35000 plants/ha) and lowest nitrogen dosage (60 kg/ha), the length of the rhizome, as well as number and length of lateral branches of the rhizome are largest at medium planting density (48000 plants/ha) and the lowest dosage of nitrogen (60 kg/ha), the number of buds on the rhizome has the highest value at the lowest planting density (35000 plants/ha) and the lowest dosage of nitrogen (60 kg/ha). The number of buds on the first lateral branch was largest at the largest planting density (62000 plants/ha) and the lowest dosage of nitrog (60 kg/ha) , and the number of leaf scars on the rhizome does</p><p>not depend on the planting dosage or the dosage of fertilizing. The largest mass of the fresh and the dry rhizome is accomplished at medium planting density and the lowest dosage of nitrogen, while the percentage of dry matter was largest at the largest density and the lowest dosage of nitrogen. The fertilization and the crop density had no effect on the ratio of mass between the fresh and the dry rhizome, while the yields of the fresh and the dry rhizome were largest at the largest planting density and the lowest dosage of nitrogen. The content of essential oils of natural sweet flag showed no significant discrepancies between the sites. The content of essential oil of cultivated sweet flag rhizomes declined with the increase of planting density, while different nitrogen doses had no effect on this property. The maximum concentration of &beta;-asarones in the essential oil of natural sweet flag was 17,07 % (Rakovac), while the largest content of &beta;-asarones in cultivated sweet flag was 21,41 %. The larger concentration of &beta;-asarones is explained through increased nitrogen metabolism, because of increased amounts of fertilizer. The results confirm that the concentration of &beta;-asarone in the essential oil of sweet flag rhizomes is similar to the concentration of essential oil of sweet flag rhizomes from Europe. By counting the chromosomes it is established that sweet flag belongs to the triploid, European variety of Аcоrus cаlаmus vаr. cаlаmus.</p>