Soil-Mulching Influence on Spearmint Oil Yield, Ecophysiological Activities and Essential-Oil Content in Rainfed Environment of Southern Italy

The application of soil mulching is widely used to improve crop productivity within semiarid regions Mediterranean environments. A field study was conducted during two consecutive cycles spearmint (Mentha spicata L.) the rainfed region Southern Italy evaluate effects straw mulch cultivation practices on yields and ecophysiological activities. Four treatments were evaluated: (1) with (RM), (2) without (R), (3) well-watered control plants (W) (4) (WM). treatment (RM) significantly improved oil activity in comparison (R). showed lower inhibition photosynthesis smaller diffusive limitations than treatment, while (R) photosynthetic strongly decreased at end cycle. average essential-oil content under W, WM RM treatments, R full-bloom stages (40 DAT). Instead, cycle, practice (RM WM) insignificantly changed compared non-mulched (W), decreased. In addition, conditions affected percentage three major monoterpenes formation carvone from limonene. Therefore, current concluded that an effective management growing by decreasing groundwater consumption increase this region.