VALERIAN ROOTS (VALERIANA OFFICINALIS L.) PRODUCED IN AUTUMN AND SPRING PLANTING DATE

Abstract

This paper examines the influence of agro-ecological conditions and plantation periods on the occurrence of planting dates of flower stalks, offering fresh and dried valerian root. The aim of this paper is to solve one of the technological unknowns in primary production of valerian roots, where one group of manufacturers base their production on fall plantation, whereas the other group applies spring plantation. The experiments were established in a randomized block design with four replications in the period of tree years from 2013 to 2015, on the soil of marshy black type. The medicinal plant species of valerian (variety “Vojvodinian”) was used, as the plant material planted in autumn and spring. In the first year of experiment there was a significantly lower number of flower stalks than in the second year. The number of flower stalks were lower when planting was done in spring. Primary reasons for such results were a shorter vegetation period and a larger number of warm days. The higher yield of fresh roots was realized in the first year (2013) due to the lower number of flower stalks, better distribution and larger amounts of rainfall. Overall, twice the yield of fresh valerian roots was recorded in the autumn plantation (14.91 kg ha-1) compared to the spring plantation (6.72 kg ha-1). The result of our research has confirmed some of the benefits of establishing an autumn crop of valerian. Obtained roots with rhizomes from autumn planting dates were bigger and brighter compared to those from spring planting dates.