Effect of Planting Density on Growth and Yield of Matricaria chamomilla L. in Greenhouse

Effect of planting density on the growth and yield of chamomile sm-8, Matricaria chamomilla L., was studied under the greenhouse conditions.The results indicated that the planting density significantly affected the growth and yield of the plants, but not on the flowering habit or the essential oil content of the dried flowers.As the density increased, the plant height decreased;the dry matter accumulation per unit area increased;and, the fresh flower yield increased initially and followed by a decline.This study found the optimum planting density for chamolmile to be 47 600plants·hm-2.At this density, high quality fresh flowers with a yield of 4 726kg·hm-2and an essential oil content of 0.400%could be obtained.