Stand Establishment and Yield Potential of Organically
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encompasses a range of climatic Stand Establishment and Yield Potential zones, and many medicinal plants that of Organically Grown Seeded and are in demand could he grown in the state. If production practices could be Transplanted Medicinal Herbs determined, many farms could sup- plement the production of agronomic and vegetable crops with herb culti- Kathryn M. Kleitz" 6, Marisa M. Wall ,, Constance L. Falk, vation (Falk et al., 1996). Diseases in Charles A. Martin4 , Marta D. Remrnenga5 , and Steven J. Guldan48 current crops such as chile pep- pers (Capsicum annuum) could he reduced with alternate crops that may ADDITIONAL INDEX WORDS. Calendula officinalis, Nepeta cataria, Melissa officinalis, not serve as hosts to the pathogens. Urtica dioica, Sphaeralcca, calendula, catnip, lemon balm, stinging nettle, Thus, the cultivation of medicinal globemallow herbs on small New Mexico farms SUMMARY. Field studies were conducted in 1995 and 1996 at Las Cruces, New could be an important avenue for Mexico, and Alcalde, New Mexico, to compare direct seeding to transplanting for economic development in rural areas stand establishment and yield estimates of calendula (Galendula officinalis), catnip (Miller, 1985). (Nepeta cataria), lemon balm (Melissa officinalis), stinging nettle ( Urtica dioica), We selected medicinal herbs to and globemallow (Sphaeralcea spp.). Calendula established well from seed or include in field studies in southern transplants at both sites. Transplanting increased establishment of lemon balm, and northern New Mexico based on catnip, stinging nettle, and globemallow. Lemon balm establishment was increased a national market surve conducted by 230% to 400% at Las Cruces, and catnip establishment was increased by 84% to y 100% at Alcalde by transplanting. Direct seeding resulted in little or no stand by New Mexico State University in establishment for stinging nettle and globemallow at Alcalde. In 1996, transplants which participants in the study indi- increased lemon balm and stinging nettle dry weight yields by a factor of three or cated that these herbs were used more at both sites. Dry weight yields of transplanted catnip were 4.86 tha in 1995 regularly and that they were looking and 7.90 tha in 1996 in Las Graces. Alcalde yields for transplanted dried catnip for new sources (Falk et al., 1996). were 2.43 tha in 1995 and 5.12 tha in 1996. Transplanted globemallow dry These herbs included calendula, cat- weight yields were 6.04 tha in 1995 and 9.17 tha in 1996 for Las Cruces. nip, lemon balm, stinging nettle, and Transplanted stinging nettle yield in Alcalde was 5.91 t-ha for plants that globemallow. overwintered and were harvested in the second season. Transplanting versus Calendula is an annual, whereas direct seeding medicinal herbs has the potential to substantially increase stand establishment and yield in New Mexico, particularly in the more northern catnip, lemon balm, stinging nettle, and cooler part of the state. and globemallow are generally con- sidered perennials, depending on where the) aregrown. Traditional he daily use of herbs by people pharmaceuticals with herbal com - uses of these medicinal herbs vary. throughout the world is com- pounds to treat illnesses, virtually Calendula flowers are used in topical Tmon and widespread. From everyone has used herbs in one man- applications for minor skin ailments spices in foods and as herbal tea ner or another. The total sales of and burns (Odv, 1993). An infusion beverages to the substitution of herbal dietary supplements have made from flowers is useful for treat- shown growth in eight out of 10 years ing mouth ulcers and gum disease This research was supported by the New Mexico from 1996 to 2005, including a 3.4% (Tyler, 1994). Catnip has general Agricultural Experiment Station, New Mexico State increase from 2003 to 2004 and a antimicrobial properties (Angelini University, Las Cruces, and the USDA Agricultural 2.1% increase from 2004 to 2005 Marketing Service, Federal-State Marketing Improve- et al., 2006; Bourrel et al., 1993) ment Grant program. Use of trade names does not (Blumenthal et al., 2006). and is used as a tea to relieve head- imply endorsement of the products named nor In New Mexico, commercial-size aches, stomach aches, anxiety, and criticism of similar ones not named. farms are being fragmented, and as sleep disorders (Cauffield and For- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, the urban sector encroaches on rural New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM bes, 1999; Foster, 1993). Lemon 88003-8003 areas in the irrigated valleys, higher- balm tea or tincture also acts as a 2 Deparrment of Plant and Environmental Sciences value alternative crops are being mild sedative and relieves digestive (formerly Agronomy and Horticulture), New Mexico sought. Small-scale farms cannot suc- upsets (Kennedy et al., 2006; Muller State University , Las Cruces, NM 88003-8003 cessfully compete in commercial and Klement, 2006; Odv, 1993). Department of Agricultural Economics and Agricul- commodity markets. New Mexico Lemon balm oil has antibacterial, tural Business, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003-8003 aAlcalde Sustainable Agriculture Science Center, Ness Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003- Units 8003 To convert U.S. to S1, To convert SI to U.S., University Statistics Center, Ne\v Mexico State multiply by U.S. unit SI unit multiply by University, Las Cruces, NM 88003-8003 7.8125 fl oz/gal mL[; 0.1280 Present address: 5820 Agave Lane, Las Cruces, NM 0.3048 ft m 3.2808 88012 0.0929 ft2 m2 10.7639 0Present address: U.S. Pacific Basin Agricultural 2.54 inch(es) cm 0.3937 Research Center, USDA-ARS, 64 Nowelo Street, 0.4536 lb kg 2.2046 Hilo, Hawaii 96720 2.2417 ton/acre tha 0.4461 Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected] (°F-32) ± 1.8 IF °C (1.8x°C)+32 116 I_diiik)gy . January-March 2008 18(1) antioxidant, and antitumor properties [fine-silty, mixed (calcareous), ther- to reduce water loss and weed (dc Sousa et al., 2004), and creams mic Typic Torrifluvent] with a pH of growth. The shells were obtained are used in Europe for the treatment 7.8. Fresh dairy cow manure was from a local pecan processing plant of herpes simplex virus (Koytchev incorporated into the soil at a rate of and were applied to create a surface et al., 1999; Tyler, 1994). Stinging 8.0 tha 1 in Fall 1994. The Alcalde mulch layer 2 inches deep. Weeding nettle leaf modulates the immune Sustainable Agriculture Science Cen- was done by hand on a weeldv basis, as system and is helpful in treating ter (lat. 36°N, long. 106°W, elevation needed. The herbs were watered by arthritis, rheumatism, and diabetes 5720 ft) averages 152 frost-free days drip irrigation as needed. In 1995, (Akbav et al., 2003; Odv, 1993). Leaf per year (New Mexico State Univer- weekly foliar applications of fish fer- extracts increase insulin secretion, sity, 1998), and is in climate zone 6 tilizer (using the same formulation and have analgesic, antioxidant, and (U.S. National Arboretum, 2003). as applied to seedlings in the green- antimicrobial activity (Farzami et al., Trials were conducted on a Fruitland house) were applied to the plants 2003; Gulcin et al., 2004). Clinical sandy loam [coarse-loamy, mixed until the surfaces of aerial portions studies showed that stinging nettle (calcareous), mesic Typic Torrior- were saturated and began to drip. The root provided relief for prostate thent] with a pH of 7.5 that had a experiment was repeated in 1996 on enlargement (Belaiche and Licvoux, previous crop of alfalfa (Mcdicago the same plots after 1995 plants were 1991). Globemallow has been used sativa). removed. to soothe sore throats and irritable All transplants were produced In Alcalde, furrow irrigation was stomachs (Moore, 1979), and has in a greenhouse at the Fabian Garcia used on single-row beds formed on been included in hair rinses and sham- Agricultural Science Center. In 1995, 3-ft centers. Each plot contained two poos to give the hair body, condition, seeds were sown in germination trays beds that measured a total of 15 x 6 ft. and shine (Moore, 1990). using Premier Promix media (Pre- Border plants were planted at the Although countless books on mier Horticulture Ltd., Steinbach, ends of each bed. In each plot, 20 herb gardening have been written, Canada) in early March for the Las plants were harvested from a 60-ft few of them provide the detailed infor- Cruces site and in late March for area. Weeding was accomplished by mation necessary to grow herbs on a Alcalde. In 1996, slightly larger ger- using a tractor-drawn rolling-tine cul- commercial scale. When comprehen- mination trays were used and the tivator early in the season and then sive information is found, it usually seeds were initiated in mid-February hand-hoeing was performed as needed. pertains to growing regions not appli- for Las Cruces and in mid-March for Irrigation was done as needed, which cable to the Southwest (Galambosi, Alcalde. Catnip, lemon balm, sting- was every week during establishment 1993; Starman et al., 1995; Sturdivant, ing nettle, and calendula seeds were and every 2 or 3 weeks throughout 1994). Field establishment of plants purchased from Richters (Ontario, the growing season, depending on can be challenging in New Mexico Canada), and globemallow seeds precipitation. In 1996, this study soils. The soil is typically alkaline, were purchased from Plants of the was replicated in an area adjacent to often forming a crust that is difficult Southwest (Santa Fe, NM). the original study, giving 2 years of for tender seedlings to penetrate Seedlings were watered twice first-year yields. In addition, some (Doolittle and Tiedebohl, 1953). daily and fertilized once per week plants established in 1995 overwin- Studies are needed to determine the starting when the seedlings were tered and provided second-year yields most efficient method of establish- about 3 weeks old.