Effect of manures and inorganic fertilizers on growth, yield, and essential oil of damask rose (Rosa damascena Mill.) and chemical properties of soil in western Himalayas

ABSTRACTA field experiment was conducted to study different manures and inorganic fertilizers effect on damask rose during 2008–2012. The rose essential oil (EO) was obtained by hydro distillation in Clevenger type apparatus and the components in the rose oil were analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Application of 90:80:90 kg nitrogen: phosphorus: potassium (NPK) ha−1 outshine all other treatments and recorded significantly higher flower and oil yield as compared to control. EO yield was also significantly correlated with flower yield plant−1, number of flowers plant,−1 and flower yield ha−1. The higher percentage of citronellol+nerol was obtained by the application of 120:40:90 kg NPK ha−1. Geraniol (26.2%) was maximum when the plants were fertilized with 90:40:90 kg NPK ha−1. Citronellol+nerol/geraniol ratio was also high in fertilized plots. Furthermore, manure application resulted in a marked improvement in chemical properties (pH, percent organic carb...