Benefits of Environmental Conditions for Growing Coriander in Banat Region, Serbia

Abstract

As one of the oldest multipurpose plants (spice, aromatic, honey and medicinal), coriander is widespread across Europe. Although in Serbia there are favorable conditions for its growth and development, it is grown on relatively small areas. During both investigated years it took more than 1200°C for transfer from vegetative to generative phase of development and over 2000°C for it to be ready for harvesting. Coriander is a photophilic plant, which requires around 1000 hours of light from sowing to ripening.. As for humidity, coriander grows well, if there are more than 200 mm of rainfall during growing season. In 2009. and 2010., the experiment carried out at the experimental field in Ostojićevo (Banat, Vojvodina province, Serbia) monitored the effect of parameters mentioned above on development of coriander plants, seed yield and essential oil content. The average yields of 1866 kg ha−1 (2009) and 2470 kg ha−1 (2010), and relatively high content of essential oil (1,06 % in both years) indicate a great potential of this plant species in Serbia, which is, however, greatly dependent on environmental conditions during year.