Rosemary

‫إكليل الجبل‬
Rosmarinus officinalis L.
Soil and Climate
• Prefer sandy well-drained soil
• Soil pH 6.5–7.8
• It needs warm, sunny weather conditions.
• It will also grow in a semi-arid tropical climate.
• The plant is susceptible to severe cold and frost
• Frost-resistant varieties are now available.
Propagation
• By cuttings or seeds.
• Stem cuttings (10–15 cm) are collected in winter
• Remove the lower leaves, dip in rooting powder
and plant them in raised sand beds in a nursery.
• After 45–50 days, cuttings are transplanted to
the field.
• Seed sowing in nursery: September - November
• Seed rate is about 0.2–2.5 g/m2
• Seedlings are transplantable at 8–10 weeks
• Plant spacing: 45 × 45 cm as a monocrop.
Irrigation and Fertilization
• Recommended rate: 40kg P2O5, 40kg K2O and
20kg N per ha
• 20 metric tonnes farmyard manure or 80 kg N +
60 kg P2O5 per ha
• Two irrigations per week are recommended
during establishment. Subsequently, irrigation
once a week will be sufficient
Pruning
• After 2-3 years to enhance shoot and leaf
production.
• Old plantations (10–12 years old) need to be
rejuvenated by cutting back the plant to a height
of 4–5 cm above ground coupled with
fertigation
Diseases and pests
• Fungal diseases:
– root rot (Phytophthora spp.)
– blight (Rhizoctonia spp.)
– hook disease (Botrytis spp.)
– powdery mildew (Oidium spp.)
• Bacterial leaf spot (Alternaria spp.),
• Mites
Harvest and Post-harvest
• The first harvest is carried out about 8 months
after planting, with the onset of flowering or just
before flowering.
• In the first year, two crops can be taken, whereas
in the subsequent years two to four harvests are
possible at an interval of 100–120 days.
• Harvesting of the plants can be carried out until
50 % flowering.
• Tender shoots are also harvested for distillation.
Chemical composition
• 1,8-cineol (15–20 %)
• camphor (15–25 %)
• borneol (16–20 %)
• α-pinene (25 %)

Uses
• Culinary uses and food processing
• Aromatherapy and cosmetics
• Herbal pesticide
Modern research into medicinal properties

Carminative Anti-inflammatory

Antidepressant Carcinogen blocking

Antispasmodic Liver detoxifying

Rubefacient Antirheumatic

Antimicrobial Abortifacient
Emmenagogue
Toxicology and quality control
• The oil if can trigger convulsions
• Not advised to Pregnant and lactating women
are use rosemary and persons suffering from
hypertension, blood pressure or insomnia
• The leaves in excess quantity can cause coma,
spasm, vomiting and, pulmonary oedema
• Essential oil may have epileptogenic properties
• It may also interfere with iron absorption
• Allergic reactions such as skin irritation when
applied externally