Effect of Organic and Mineral Fertilizers on Essential Oil Yield and Composition of Thymus syriacus Boiss. Cultivated Under the Mediterranean Conditions

Thymus syriacus Boiss. It is an evergreen, perennial sub-shrub that is distributed throughout the Eastern Mediterranean, including Türkiye. The use of organic and mineral fertilizers differs in their contributions to sustainability and soil fertility. While the mineral fertilizers are believed to ensure rapid nutrient availability, organic fertilizers play a vital role in maintaining long-term soil health and supporting sustainable production systems. In the present study, a field experiment on T. syriacus Boiss. was conducted to examine the effects of organic and mineral fertilizers on essential oil (EO) content and composition in the Eastern Mediterranean Region of Türkiye. The treatments included control (no fertilizer), manure (25 ton ha-1), vermicompost (10 ton ha-1), and mineral fertilizer (0.4 ton ha-1). Treatments were found to be significantly effective on EO content and components (p