title: Changes in growth, essential oil yield and composition of geranium (Pelargonium graveolens L.) as affected by growing media.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Using proper growing medium is known to be an effective way to improve crop growth and yield. However, the effects of growing media on geranium essential oil have scarcely ever been examined in detail. In this research, the effects of different growing media (soil, sand, pumice, perlite and perlite + cocopeat) on growth, oil yield and composition of geranium were studied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Growth was significantly improved in soilless-grown plants compared with soil-grown plants. Oil yield of soilless-grown plants (except for pumice) was about threefold higher than that of soil-grown plants. The increase in oil yield was correlated with higher leaf dry weight (r²  = 0.96), as oil content was not affected. The citronellol/geranium ratio of oil was clearly affected by growing media, ranging from 5:1 in soil culture to 3:1 in soilless culture. The latter is acceptable for perfumery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared with soil, soilless media could produce higher yields of high-quality geranium oil that fits market requirements. Growth, oil yield and composition of plants grown in sand (a cheap and abundant growing medium) were not significantly different from those of plants grown in perlite and perlite + cocopeat.
authors.affiliation: Razi Herbal Medicenes Research Center, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Korramabad, Iran; Department of Horticultural Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Lorestan University, PO Box 465, Korramabad, Iran.
authors.forename: Abdolhossein
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rezaei Nejad
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ismaili
mesh_terms: D000080462:Acyclic Monoterpenes; D000537:Aluminum Oxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D003059:Cocos / Q000737:chemistry*; D018556:Crops, Agricultural / Q000737:chemistry / Q000191:economics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D005525:Food-Processing Industry / Q000191:economics; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry*; D007220:Industrial Waste / Q000032:analysis / Q000191:economics; D007492:Iran; D039821:Monoterpenes / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000191:economics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D031316:Pelargonium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D010476:Perfume / Q000737:chemistry / Q000191:economics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D017640:Silicates / Q000737:chemistry; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry; D013729:Terpenes / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000080462:Acyclic Monoterpenes; D007220:Industrial Waste; D039821:Monoterpenes; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010476:Perfume; D017640:Silicates; D012987:Soil; D013729:Terpenes; C003076:Perlite; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; C062414:citronellyl formate; C007836:geraniol; D000537:Aluminum Oxide; C005144:pumice; C007078:citronellol
keywords: Pelargonium graveolens L; citronellol; geraniol; soil culture; soilless culture