The influence of climatic conditions on the herbal production (kg/ha) and the essential oil content (%) obtained with twelve species of aromatic plants: lavender Lavanda angustifolia L.) and sage (Salvia officinalis L.). The climatic condition characterization was based on recordings of meteorological conditions found at the Arganda Meteorological Station, situated 6 km away from the experimental field in the locality Morata de Tajuña (40 13 46 N, 3 26 11 V), Madrid, Spain. The active principle content in the essential oil is higher in warm, dry areas (Racz, and Evdochia Coiciu 1970). Between certain limits, the high temperature, especially during the blooming period, leads to the synthetisation of all active principle categories. The warm weather favours the content and quality of volatile oils. When analysing the climatic conditions of the year 2015, one observes that, during the vegetation period form planting the biological material in the lot on October 10th until harvesting in July, a temperature degree sum of 530°C was calculated, which is considered optimal for the two aromatic crops. Also, the temperatures during the last 45 days before blooming, in April for sage and June and July for the lavender crops, were optimal for the accumulation of volatile oils in the plant. Aromatic plants usually require a warm climate with low precipitations. The critical stage for the water demand is during the period of vegetative growth, buttoning and blooming. If, during the previous months, the hydric input is sufficient, during the months when the aromatic plants bloom, they do not require much precipitation. The rains falling during the blooming and harvesting period will endanger the quality of the volatile oil. One may observe that the agricultural year (Spain) displays a normal climatology and does not differ significantly from the average. We may thus state, that the experimental field crops did not encounter any special problems. We must mention the fact that during the months of March, April, May and June, a water input of ca. 200l/m2 was provided through irrigation.

italic climatic conditions, essential oil, production herbs.

field crops and pastures

Presentation: poster