Researches on Cultivation of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants in Kayseri

This study comprises the results of demonstrative studies on some medicinal and aromatic plants carried out by Kayseri Directorate of Provincial Agriculture and Forestry under the field conditions in 2015-2017 within the Project of Improving the Medicinal-Aromatic and Dye Plants Cultivations, funded by General Directorate of Plant Production (BUGEM). In this project, five different plants consisting of lavandin ( Lavandula x intermedia Emeric ex Loisel), lemon balm ( Melissa officinalis L.), oregano ( Origanum onites L.), salep ( Orchis sancta and Serapias womeraceae ), and black cumin ( Nigella sativa ) were studied in 11 counties for three years. Desired results were obtained from lavandin, lemon balm, black cumin and oregano plants under the ecological conditions of Kayseri. In terms of cultivation of black cumin, there were not any considerable problems except for weeds affecting sufficient yields. The weed problem was primarily orginated by not having herbicides authorized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. Although application of different planting times and mulching methods in salep plants, desired results couldn’t be obtained because of the harsh winter conditions and frost damage.