RESEARCH ON DEVELOPING A MULTIFUNCTIONAL EQUIPMENT FOR HARVESTING MEDICINAL AND AROMATIC PLANTS FOR USE ON SMALL AREAS

Cultivation technologies of medicinal and aromatic plants characterize harvesting operations as being difficult, because they have a significant effect on the plant material quality. Therefore, regardless the harvesting method used (either manual or mechanical), the intervention on the useful part of the plant have to be kept to minimum. Mechanized harvesting is usually an important prior factor for achieving profitable productions, and this aspect is also valid for medicinal and aromatic plants. In order to improve and adapt the cultivation technologies to the current Romanian requirements, and analyzing previous practical experiences, INMA Bucharest has achieved a multifunctional equipment for harvesting annual and perennial medicinal and aromatic plants, with applicability on small land surfaces. The paper presents the experimental model of an innovative equipment and the expected advantages, compared to the previously made harvesting equipment

STUDY REGARDING SOIL QUALITY INFLUENCE ON SEVERAL MEDICINAL CROPS

Soils are living and dynamic systems that serve as interface between agriculture and the environment. Soil and water quality influence medicinal plant harvest yield, while the cultivation technologies and processes that take place during the growing season may influence soil quality. The significant decrease in soil quality is evidenced by the negative changes in its physical, chemical, biological properties and when soil is contaminated with organic and inorganic substances. The assessment of soil conservation status is performed by determining key indicators and threshold values, which must be maintained for its normal functioning, this analysis being important to determine trends of deterioration or improvement of soil quality, for various agricultural ecosystems. The main objective of this paper was to determine a series of indicators such as: physical indicators (particle size, humidity, density), chemical indicators (pH, conductivity, N:P:K content), and organic content from soil, in order to evaluate soil and water quality, on a field cultivated with several annual and perennial medicinal plants (basil, marigold, hyssop, lemon balm, lophantus, etc.)

EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH REGARDING THE HARVEST OF SOME MEDICINAL PLANTS FROM FAM. LAMIACEAE

Medicinal plants from Fam. Lamiaceae are characterized by the presence of compounds that have a high antioxidant activity. The quality of plant material depends on a complex of factors, which also includes harvesting. Applying especially to cultivated species, mechanized harvesting conditions the obtaining of profitable productions of medicinal plants.The paper presents the experimental results obtained in the tests of the Multifunctional equipment for harvesting medicinal and aromatic plants (experimental model) in the crops of Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) Respectively Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis L.), both from the fam. Lamiaceae, made on small areas

Preliminary Tests Regarding Fumigant Effect of Volatile Oils Obtained from Medicinal Plants

The objective of this work was testing 4 volatile oils obtained from new varieties of medicinal plants (yellow basil; red basil; marigold; hyssop), over Beauveria brongniartii (BbgMm1a/09) entomopathogenic fungi and Sitophilus granarius, deposit insect. The results obtained showed that at different concentrations, red basil volatile oil showed the strongest inhibitory effect compared to the other tested oils (yellow basil, marigold and hyssop). Concerning the insecticidal action, the preliminary tests with the 4 volatile oils obtained from new varieties of medicinal plants had no effect on the test insect - Sitophilus granarius

USE OF ESSENTIAL OILS AS GREEN BIOPESTICIDES

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the application of herbal products, especially essential oils (EOs) in agriculture, as an alternative to the use of synthetic pesticides, for healthy crops and environmentally sustainable production systems. This was the main reason why the properties of EOs as natural pesticides for their promotion and use in organic farming were evaluated. EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) defines biopesticide as a safer product, with a lower persistence in the environment, biodegradable, less toxic to non-target organisms, less likely to contaminate soil and groundwater. Many EOs obtained from medicinal plants have a wide range of activities against harmful insects, bacteria and phytopathogenic fungi, weeds. Their action varies from insecticidal activities, repellents, antifeedants, growth regulation, etc. This review presents the most effective biopesticides based on EOs obtained from medicinal plants and the future development prospects of this industry.Â

Cultivarea şi extracţia uleiurilor volatile obţinute din soiuri noi de busuioc (Ocimum basilicum L., fam. Lamiaceae)

he paper presents the experimental research carried out within INMA Bucharest regarding the cultivation of two new varieties, ‘Aromat de Buzau’and ‘Serafim’,created by SCDL Buzau.These belong to the two varieties of basil(Ocimum basilicum L., Lamiaceae) yellow and purple, which were grown in the agricultural years 2017 and 2018, years that were different in terms of agrometeorological conditions.It also presents the method for obtaining vegetal extracts (volatile oil and floral water), obtained by processing the vegetal raw material while applying a process based on water vapour pressure distillation. Extractionyields obtained are presented comparatively.The results are the premises for obtaining new products with a high market value, which can be applied in the future for vegetable crops protection in greenhouses and solariums

Precision sowing of vegetable seeds using electrically operated distribution devices

The high efficiency of vegetable crops is influenced, in addition to soil preparation works, weed, diseases and pests control, irrigation, etc. by precision sowing, which involves placing a certain number of seeds at an exact depth and distance. Thus, cost savings, a high reliability of production and especially a greater uniformity of crops are achieved, most often uniform and quality productions being obtained. For vegetable species in the case of which harvesting is practiced only once, uniformity of seed distribution is particularly important. In most cases, vegetable seeds have small size, irregular shape and small mass. These characteristics make the development of precision seeders for this type of seed quite difficult. Precision sowing of vegetable seeds ensures a correct sowing rate, which implies an optimal space for plant growth and development, thus improving crop yields. The paper presents a summary of the current state of precision seeders equipped with electrically operated distributors for vegetable seeds, as well as the preliminary results of research conducted by authors in this field

Climate changes and methods to protect vegetable crops

In the context of the current climate change, it has become urgently necessary to develop adequate systems to protect horticultural crops. In Romania, the losses caused to these cultures by the extreme weather phenomena, as well as the lack of active intervention measures to combat or limit them, represent the main argument for addressing this field in particular. Vegetable crops are generally sensitive to extreme weather phenomena. In the climatic conditions in our country, the extreme phenomena occur between March and September, which coincides with the vegetation period of the crops. Of these, hail causes significant damage, and in some cases, at high intensity and long-lasting, can cause the calamity of vegetable crops. Another effect can arise in the drought years, when, in the absence of rainfall, the weeds enter into a fierce competition with vegetables, as regards the specific consumption of water and nutrients. The paper presents a review regarding the current methods of vegetable crops protection against the extreme weather phenomena and of weed control in these crops, grown in organic system. Combining the available solutions, adopting integrated strategies for non-chemical weed control can be an important premise for researchers and farmers to protect vegetable crops

Researches on ecological weed control in vegetable crops

In recent years, intense concerns about the increasing resistance of weed populations to herbicide treatments, the low availability of bioactive ingredients for vegetable crops, as well as the expansion of organic farms for these niche crops have stimulated the development of new non-chemical methods of control or new approaches to those already used. In general, vegetable crops exhibit increased sensitivity to weeds compared to other crops. Therefore, weed control in organic vegetable crops is a real challenge for farmers, mainly using the so-called physical combat methods. Therefore, weed destruction is accomplished by using manual, mechanical, thermal or mulching means. The paper presents the preliminary experimental results obtained under laboratory conditions, referring to an innovative model of equipment for the ecological weed control in vegetable crops. It will achieve the destruction of weeds, combining the thermal method based on using hot water with the mechanical one, by equipping the machine with environmentally friendly active parts. The results obtained constitute an important premise for developing efficient equipment for the ecological weed control that can be used within integrated control systems, specific for organic onion, bean and bell pepper crops