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Journal of Medicinal Plants
Research Vol. 5(4), pp.
543–548,
18 February, 2011
ISSN 1996-0875 ©2011 Academic
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Full Length Research Paper |
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Growth and
production potential of three exotic herbs in highlands of
Balochistan, Pakistan
Qasima Agha1, Sarfraz Ahmad2,
Muhammad Islam2, Aslam Gill3 and Mohammad
Athar4*
1Department of Botany,
University of Balochistan, Quetta, Pakistan.
2Arid Zone Research Center,
Quetta, Pakistan.
3Ministry of Food and
Agriculture, Islamabad, Pakistan.
4Department
of Food and Agriculture, 3288 Meadowview Road, Sacramento, CA
95832, California USA.
*Corresponding author. E-mail:
atariq@cdfa.ca.gov. Tel:
916-262-0855. Fax: 916-262-2059.
Accepted 17 November, 2010 |
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Abstract |
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Three exotic herb species (Hyssopus officinalis L.,
Salvia officinalis L. and Thymus vulgaris L.) of
Lamiaceae family were evaluated for growth and production at two
sites during 2005-2006 in highlands of Balochistan. Two months
old seedlings were transplanted in the fields at Quetta and
Kalat in Balochistan. Fresh and dry production was recorded
after the one growing season. Survival percentage, plant height,
fresh and dry production were comparatively better at Quetta
than Kalat. The fresh production of sage, thyme and hyssop at
Quetta was recorded 8192, 4743 and 3398 kg/ha, respectively. The
dry production of these herbs at Quetta was 3170, 2192 and 1521
kg/ha for sage, thyme and hyssop, respectively. These herbs have
commercial scale cultivation potential on marginal lands in
highlands of Balochistan. Thyme can be cultivated for culinary
herb, herbal tea and as a medicinal herb while hyssop and sage
can be cultivated for their uses in herbal medicines.
Key words: Balochistan, herbs, sage, thyme, hyssop, production potential,
marginal lands.
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