Medicinal plants need heat and atmospheric moisture

heat and atmospheric moisture

 The need for medicinal plants to heat varies according to the environment in which they originated. For example, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and tea need high temperatures. As well as basil, coffee, chili and cocoa, It does not grow in cold regions

While plants that grew up in cold regions, such as rhubarb, digitalis, pine nuts, black mustard, and German iris, are only successful in cold regions.

There are temperate plants, such as the plants of the Mediterranean basin, such as willow, celery, saffron, chrysanthemum, sugar, Adons, almonds, olives, and camphor. These need a hot, dry climate, warm summers, and rainy winters.

Some plants need both heat and moisture, such as tea, ginger, galangal, turmeric and hemp, While the other prefers hot, dry weather such as aloe vera, bitter melon, acacia, wormwood, Hyscyamus muticus, cinnamic, and henna

Exposing plants to different conditions of temperature or humidity different from their environment leads to a decrease in the concentration of active substances in them

Plants need of light

Light is of great importance in plants, as it is the main source of energy needed for the process of photosynthesis, through which all substances are composed of carbohydrates, protein and aromatic oils.

The light also has another effect on plant flowers,The light also has another effect on the flowering of plants, according to the period in which the plant is exposed to light, and it is divided into long-day plants, such as the Hyscyamus muticus.

There is another group called short-day plants that do not bloom if they are exposed to long periods of light, such as Nicotiana tabacum

There is another group of plants that grow under any circumstances and are called neutral plants. These plants are affected by other internal factors such as temperature and hormones.

The intensity of lighting also has an effect on flowers, some of which need direct sunlight, such as bitter melon and cactus, and some that need indirect or less intense light, such as black pepper and coffee.

Water and irrigation needs of aromatic plants

 All plants need water depending on the type of plant and the nature of its growth

Benefits of water for plants

The water in the soil dissolves the salts and nutrients in order to facilitate their absorption by the root hairs

Water carries nutrients from the root to all parts of the plant so that the plant performs photosynthesis, through which the plant synthesizes carbohydrates.

Water maintains cell viability and transports materials from one cell to another

When there is a lack of water, the cells wilt and loosen, and when dehydrated, the cells freeze and die

Water is necessary for cells to carry out all vital operations

Plants can be divided into four categories according to their water needs

Aquatic plants

It is the one that lives in an aquatic environment or soil saturated with water. It has special modifications   that enable it to live in this environment like a  fucus It is an aquatic algae and  Acurus calamus It is an aquatic weed

Semi-aquatic plants

They are plants that tolerate to some extent the increase in water in the soil, such as mint and willow

intermediate plants

And it needs an average amount of moisture, and it needs to ventilate the soil so that the roots can breathe and grow well

If grown in a dry environment, some of its characteristics change and the thickness of the chitin layer increases, Their stomata are closed most of the time, If the soil moisture increases, the leaf area increases, and the cutin decreases, Examples include star anise, solanum, fennel, soybeans, marjoram and fenugreek

desert plants

It tolerates to a large extent the lack of moisture in the soil and has special modifications such as increasing the layer of chitin and waxes, The stomata and leaves are parallel and point upwards, and the roots go deep into the soil

When growing medicinal plants, emphasis should be placed on their water needs ,Where irrigation increases in summer and decreases in winter, Sandy soil plants need to shorten the irrigation period

While the period is prolonged in heavy lands. It is also noted that herbaceous plants need water more than trees and shrubs, This is due to the deep roots of trees and shrubs in the soil Irrigation also affects the concentration of medicinal and aromatic substances. Excessive irrigation of desert plants reduces the concentration of aromatic substances in them

Chemical fertilizer and its importance for medicinal plants

Chemical fertilizer 

Chemical fertilizer differs in terms of the type of elements it contains and the proportion of each

The plant's need for fertilizer varies depending on the condition of the soil and the type of plant

For example, nitrogen fertilization is needed by plants more than other elements, especially plants from   which grass is taken Or leaf like mint, basil and marjoram

As well as plants that contain alkali, such as sugar, belladonna, and Datura, as it works to increase the active substance in these plants

nitrogenous fertilizers 

such as ammonia sulfate and contain 20% nitrogen, sodium nitrate 15% nitrogen, calcium nitrate 15% nitrogen, as well as calcium nitrate in addition to urea 46% nitrogen and ammonium nitrate 33% nitrogen

phosphate fertilizers

 they are important in stimulating flowering as well as fruiting As well as increasing the essential oil in the leaves and seeds 

It also has a role in the amount of nitrogen absorbed by the plant. The plant can obtain it from poultry waste, or from monocalcium superphosphate 16% and di-calcium superphosphate 32%.

for potassium fertilizers

 it has an effective role in regulating vital processes, absorbing nitrogen, and regulating the water content in the cell. Potassium also increases the hardness of the cell wall and is involved in the synthesis of protein and enzymes.

Therefore, the effect of potassium appears clearly in plants that store carbohydrates, such as persimmons, liquorice, maghat, and orchids

Among the sources that contain potassium, such as sheep waste, sebum, sawdust, and plant leaf powder

As for chemical fertilizers that contain potassium, such as potassium nitrate 44%, potassium phosphate 34%, potassium sulfate 48-50%, and potassium chloride 50%.

Factors affecting the production of medicinal and aromatic plants

 The first factor is the soil

 Soil is where the plant's root grows and through which it gets water and nutrients

Including the major elements such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium And trace elements such as copper, manganese, boron and zinc

Soil varies in terms of its texture, acidity, percentage of organic matter, and moisture content

The soil needs of medicinal plants differ in terms of acidity, consistency, and the percentage of organic matter. For example, cactus, agave, cinnamic, marjoram, and licorice grow in light yellow and sandy soils.

As for plants of the tent family such as cumin, caraway, fennel, star anise, and plants belonging to the rose family such as eggplant, it is preferable to grow them in heavy and loamy soils.

In terms of the chemical composition of the soil, we find some plants growing in calcareous soils, such as lavender and gentian

Some of them grow in alkaline soils, such as olives, pomegranates, and henna

Some of them succeed in acidic soils, such as tobacco, cypress, garlic, onions and mustard

The second component is nutrients and fertilization

The soil is the main source of nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorous, iron, potassium, calcium and magnesium

If the soil is poor in these elements, it must be added by composting. There are two main types of fertilizer here

compost

And it works to improve the natural properties of the soil, as it works to dismantle the soil granules

and increase its water holding capacity

It also adds to the soil a good amount of macro and micro nutrients

The organic fertilizer consists of the remnants of cattle, horses and sheep, and the addition of fishmeal, bone meal and cottonseed meal.

Organic fertilizer is added before planting to slow its decomposition

The organic fertilizer can be replaced with bio-fertilizer (green manure) by planting alfalfa and beans to form nitrogenous complexes.

Various types of biofertilizers are now used, such as nitrogen-fixing bacteria (Azotobacter, Nitrozomonas, and Azosspirillium).

As well as phosphorus-fixing organisms such as bacillus megatherum  ,microhizza and  saccharomyces cerevisiae 

These fertilizers are used either by spraying on the plant, adding it to the soil, or immersing the seeds and roots of seedlings in it

Production of aromatic and medicinal plants

 Basic ingredients for the Production of   aromatic and medicinal plants

In order for the cultivation of medicinal plants to succeed in any country, these ingredients must be available

Relatively cheap land suitable for growing medicinal plants

Availability of labor in the place where medicinal plants are to be grown, with moderate wages

Sufficient experience in the process of cultivation, fertilization, collection, storage and pest control

Sufficient capital to meet the necessary expenses in the first years of cultivation, and to prepare requirements such as sawmills and distillation tools

Means of transportation are available, and it is preferable that the land be close to the distillation and extraction plant

Guaranteed markets for the disposal of the crop

Scientific management familiar with the collection, storage and marketing of the product, both internally and externally

Factors affecting cultivation and production of fragrant plants

In order for the cultivation of   aromatic and medicinal plants to succeed in any place, several factors must be available, the most important of which are:

Choose a plant and a good variety that is suitable for the place where it will be grown

Knowing the needs for its growth and agricultural treatments that increase production and concentration of the active substance

The most important of these factors

the soil

Nutrients

Water and irrigation needs

temperature and air humidity

the light

Height above sea level

agricultural operations

Technical expertise, trained labor and sufficient capital

see also

Advantages and disadvantages of collecting medicinal plants from nature

Medicinal and aromatic plants adapt to the environment

Details about medicinal and aromatic plants

What do you know about medicinal plants?

Advantages and disadvantages of collecting medicinal plants from nature

First, the advantages of collecting medicinal plants from the wild

Low cost due to not being cultivated and taking into account the occupancy of cultivated land

It contains the active substance at a high rate

It is not contaminated with fertilizers and chemicals

Second, the disadvantages of collecting medicinal plants from the wild

They are scattered over vast areas, making it difficult to collect large quantities

Difficulty in moving it away from the paved roads

Plants that violate specifications may be collected due to the ignorance of the collection workers of the required characteristics

The increased demand for these plants led to the disappearance of a large number of them, which made it necessary to cultivate them

Advantages and disadvantages of growing medicinal and aromatic plants

Cultivation in specific places makes it easy to control

Planted near paved roads, they are easy to transport

Knowing the type to be cultivated and controlling its purity and the appropriate time to collect it, as it contains the highest percentage of the active substance

Plants can be controlled by watering, fertilizing, and controlling pests and weeds

Breaking the contempt of some countries for certain types of medicinal plants and cultivating them in other countries

Cultivation of the required quantity of each type

Work to improve the production of medicinal plants through the use of appropriate seeds and treatment before planting to ensure germination

Disadvantages of growing medicinal and aromatic plants

Increasing the cost of manpower and the price of land

Some environmental disasters may cause us to lose a large percentage of our production

Lack of trained manpower in some places

Cultivation of medicinal plants in an environment other than their environment may change their properties and the concentration of the active substance

Medicinal and aromatic plants adapt to the environment

Medicinal plants grow in the desert in small numbers and at certain times of the year when conditions are favorable

These plants store water in some of their parts to cope with drought, so mutations occurred in these parts to suit the function

Formation of stems and succulent leaves to store the largest amount of water

The leaves are small in size to reduce the amount of transpiration

The leaves and stem are covered with a layer of chitin to reduce water loss

Leaves and stem are either light colored or mottled green to reduce light absorption

The stomata are few in number and close during the intensification of heat. They may be covered with waxes and resin and are sunken under the epidermis

The concentration of cellular juice in the root hairs is high to facilitate the absorption of water from the soil

The branches are short and close to each other in the form of a small cushion, which protects the plant from direct sunlight

Placing the leaves on the stem is vertical and parallel to the stem, as well as the blade is small and the neck is flattened

The leaves may be completely absent and the stems are flattened and replace them in the post

The plant stores water in special tissues in the middle and away from sunlight to prevent water loss

The roots are deep and extended in the soil to reach groundwater

read also

Details about medicinal and aromatic plants

What do you know about medicinal plants?

Production of aromatic and medicinal plants        

Advantages and disadvantages of collecting medicinal plants from nature