Line spacing and harvesting timesin biomass production and essential oil content of the peppermint (Mentha arvensis L.)

The peppermint is a plant grown primarily for essential oil production and biomass, which can be influenced byenvironmental conditions. This study aimed to evaluate the biomass production and essential oil content of mint(MenthaarvensisL.) under the effect of different row spacing of planting and harvesting schedules. The experimentwas conducted in a randomized block design with three replications and six treatments in a 2x3 factorial, two rowspacings (0,40 x 0,30 m and 0,60 x 0,30 m) and three harvest time (6:00 to 7:00, 10:00 to 11:00 and 16:00 to17:00). The characteristics evaluated were: total chlorophyll, temperature of leaves in harvest time(°C), total freshbiomass of leaves (t ha-1), total dry biomass of leaves (t ha-1), total fresh biomass of shoot (t ha-1), total dry biomassof shoot (t ha-1) and essential oil content based on dry biomass of leaves (% óleo). The 0,40 x 0,30 m spacing wassuperior for the production of fresh biomass of leaves and shoots (3,05 and 4,8 t ha-1, respectively) and dry biomassof leaves and shoots (0,28 and 0,5 t ha-1, respectively). There was no effect on the timing of harvest or spacing onessential oil yield.