The Effect of The Expanded Clay Cultures and Slow Released Fertilizers on Growth, Development and Fresh Leaf Biomass of Mentha arvensis L.

Abstract

     The experiment studied the effect of the expanded clay cultures and slow released fertilizers on growth, development and fresh leaf biomass of Mentha arvensis L. The experiment consisted of two factors: the main factor is 4 expanded clay cultures: G1, G2, G3, G4; Sub-factor is 3 slow released fertilizers: P1, P2, P3. The 12 experimental treatments were arranged in randomized complete block (RCB) and repeated 3 times in the net house of the Faculty of Agronomy, VNUA, in Winter 2014 and Spring 2015. The studied results show that the expanded clay cultures made in Vietnam have porous properties, capacity to store water and nutrients helping plants grow and development better and therefore higher yields compared to the plants grown on the Chinese cultures. The expanded clay culture G1 and slow released fertilizer P1 (NPK ratio is 20 : 20 : 15) is the most appropriate substrate for Mentha arvensis L. to grow. Winter crop is suitable for mint basil plant growth, development and obtained higher yields (1.2 to 1.6 times) than spring season.