S290 Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Education and Research | Vol 51 | Issue 3 | Jul-Sep, 2017(Special Issue) Original Artcle www.ijper.org Infuence of Chicken Manure Applications on the Yield and the Essential Oil content of Origanum onites L. Ayşe Betül AVCI* Odemis Vocational School of Ege University, 35760, TURKEY ABSTRACT Background: Origanum onites L. is one of the most important export plant collected from natural flora and cultuvated in Turkey. Methods: This study was conducted to determine the effects of different doses of chicken manure on yield characteristics of O. onites, in Odemis, Izmir ecological conditions during 2014 and 2015 vegetation periods. The experiment was established as randomized blocks design with three replications and five chicken manure (0, 10, 20, 30, 40 ton ha -1 ) were applied. Results: Plant height, fresh herb yield, dry herb yield, dry leaf yield, dry stem yield and essential oil content were significantly affected by year, harvest number and chicken manure doses. Mean value of the plant height ranged between 56.80 to 94.87 cm, fresh herb yield was 54000.0–135150.0 kg ha -1 , dry herb yield was 5770.7–31040.7 kg ha -1 , dry leaf yield was 3560.7–15470.7 kg ha -1 and dry stem yield was 1430.6–19060.0 kg ha -1 . The total essential oil content ranged between 3.5–5.4%. Conclusion: For the highest drog herb and drog leaf yields, which is the most important features for the production of oregano, 20 ton ha -1 of chicken manure application can be recommended. 30 ton ha -1 chicken manure dose can be suggested as the effective for the essential content. Key words: Oregano, Fertilization, Fresh herb yield, Dry herb yield, Dry leaf yield, Essential oil. DOI: 10.5530/ijper.51.3s.32 Correspondence: Ayşe Betül AVCI, Odemis Vocational School of Ege University, 35760, TURKEY Contact: 902325452149 E-mail: avcibet@hotmail.com; ayse.betul.avci@ege.edu.tr INTRODUCTION Oregano (Origanum onites L.) belongs to the Lamiaceae family is a perennial plant and is widespread in the West and South part of Turkey. 1 Turkey is one the biggest oregano producers in the world of exports 15 161 tons of oregano from $ 3.7 per kilogram in 2015. 2 The most exported Origanum species of Turkey are Origanum onites, O. vulgare subsp. hirtum, O. minutiforum, O. dubium, O. syriacum var. bevanii. The other species used as oregano in our country are Thymbra spicata, T. sintenisii, Coridothymus capitatus, Satureja cuneifolia, S. hortensis, S. montana, S.spicigera. Origanum genus is widely used as spices, fa- vouring of food products as well as cosmetic and cleaning industry. Also; their essential oils are used as natural food preservatives because of antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. The essential oil content of Origanum onites is ranging from 1.8% to 4.5% 3 . The main constituent of the Origanum essential oil is mostly carvacrol. A carvacrol content changing from 51.0% to 84.5%. 3 Plant nutrition is one the most important factors that increase plant production and nitrogen is the most recognized in plants for its presence in the structure of the protein molecule. 3 The mineral nutrition of herbs can affect oil production and quality. 4 A successful fertilizing program adds enough nutrient elements to the soil to promote growth and/or oil production. 5 In sustainable agriculture, organic fertilizers not only supply plant nutrients but also improve soil organic matter contents. 6 Nitrogen fertilization reduced the essential oil content of some