A research on rejuvenation pruning of lavandin (Lavandula x intermedia Emeric ex Loisel.)

Objective: The main purpose of the research was investigate whether to be renewed or not without the need for re-planting by rejuvenation pruning to the aged plantations of lavandin. In the study was also compare effects on fresh stem, dry stem flower and dried flower yield and essential oil content of the Super A lavandin cultivar of pruning methods (semi-pruning and full pruning) in three different seasons (March/Spring, August/Summer and December/Autumn). Material and Methods: The experiment was arranged according to a randomized block design with factorial treatments with three replications using 10-year-old Super-A lavandin cultivar (Lavandula x intermedia var. Super A) between 2014 and 2017 in Isparta-a city in the south-western part of Turkey. Results: Pruning season, pruning method and pruning season x pruning method interaction (except for the essential oil content of dried flower) were found to be significant according to the analysis of variance. The highest values in terms of fresh stem, dry stem and dried flower yield were obtained as semi pruning (8936 kg ha-1, 4763 kg ha-1 and 1931 kg ha-1, respectively) in March. The highest essential oil content (2.66%) fresh stem flower was determined to semi-pruning in August, while the highest volatile oil content (5.07%) was obtained in dried flower to full pruning in December. Generally, control (non-pruned) plants showed the lowest values in terms of the characteristics examined. Conclusion: The results obtained from the research showed that the aging plantations can be renewed without re-planting by rejuvenation pruning in lavandin.