The dissertation covers the results of research on the growth, development, formation of productivity of summer savory depending on the timing, methods of sowing and moisture conditions. The growth and development of summer savory depends on the biological characteristics of the variety, agronomic methods of cultivation and weather conditions. The duration of the growing season for Satureja hortensis L. varies from 96 to 116 days. Sowing at a later date accelerates the growth and development of summer savory plants, which leads to a reduction in their growing season.
Drip irrigation conditions contributed to the formation of a full-fledged plant density, ensured a more active growth of vegetative mass, and increased the size and weight of each individual plant. Under conditions of drip irrigation, the yield of green mass of summer savory was formed in the range of 4.0-7.7 t/ha, and under conditions of natural moisture – 25.7-45.9% less and was equal to 2.2-5.0 t/ha. Sowing dates influenced the yield of green mass of garden savory at the level of 14.2-33.9% and cause fluctuations by 0.7-2.4 t/ha.
The highest average mass fraction of essential oil during 2012-2014 (0.97% of the wet weight) was recorded during sowing in the third decade of April using a wide-row method (30 cm) under conditions of natural moisture. This version of the research provided the maximum result in 2014 and was equal to 1.2% of the wet weight. The smallest mass fraction of essential oil in the composition of summer savory plants was at the level of 0.5-0.6% of the wet weight and was observed in the variants under any moisture conditions.
Comparing the average data for three years of the conditional yield of the essential oil of summer savory plants under conditions of drip irrigation, high values were obtained when sowing in the third decade of April – 48.8-51.3 kg/ha. The smallest indicators were recorded during sowing in the second decade of May and amounted to 27.4-30.0 kg/ha, which is 40.4-44.0% less compared to the previous data. Under natural moisture conditions, the conditional yield of Satureja hortensis L. essential oil varied within 15.9-44.9 kg/ha. Moreover, high values of this indicator (40.4-44.9 kg/ha) were recorded in similar variants.
The conducted studies, generalization of their results allowed us to recommend the production of a model of the technology of cultivation of summer savory in the conditions of the Southern Steppe of Ukraine, which ensures the formation of the yield of green mass at the level of 7.7 t/ha, dry mass of 2.34 t/ha, conditional yield of essential oil 51, 3 kg/ha.
The highest net income was obtained under drip irrigation during sowing in the third decade of April using a wide-row method (45 cm), equal to 46.12 thousand UAH/ha. In conditions of natural moisture, the best result of this indicator was recorded under similar conditions and amounts to 44.14 thousand UAH/ha. The level of profitability on the option with the maximum net income was 191.3%.
The use of drip irrigation increases the energy consumption for the cultivation of summer savory. They reached a maximum when sown in the third decade of April, but as a result of the formation of a high yield of green mass, they have a more attractive value, both in terms of energy accumulation in the crop (37.7-38.3 GJ) and an increase the energy efficiency ratio (1.84-1.87).
Key words: summer savory, essential oil, sowing date, sowing method, moisture conditions, yield, economic and energy efficiency
