Impact of Planting Distances and Natural Plant Extracts on Vegetative Growth, Chemical Constituents and Oil Productivity on Thyme Plant

Abstract

This study was carried during the two successive seasons 2017 and 2018, at the Experimental Farm of Hortic. Dep., Faculty of Agric., Benha University, Egypt to study the effects of different planting distances (20*20 and 30*30cm) with some natural extracts (licorice and aloe extracts) and their interactions on thyme plant. the results showed that the combined treatment between planting distances (20*20) cm, and F5 (Aloe 50%) gained the superiority, followed by descending order by the combination treatment of planting distances (20*20cm) and F3 (Licorice 50%) in two cuts and the two seasons. Furthermore, the combination between planting distances and fertilizations treatments enhanced the chemical compositions particularly planting distance at ( 30*30cm), and F3 (Licorice 50%) during the in general .However, essential oil percentage of thyme plant was increased by using the combined treatment of planting distances at (30*30 cm) and F5 (Aloe extract at 50%). GLC analysis of of thyme included 12 compounds were identified, the main component was β-cymene. Consequently, it is preferable to use the planting distance ( 30*30cm), and F5 (Aloe extract at 50%), for improving all studied traits of thyme plant.