Nutrients requirement of medicinal plants of Dhofar Region of Oman

Abstract

Dhofar region of Oman has unique position in Arabic peninsula due to Kharif (monsoon) season. During the season, the area receives sufficient water required for development of various type of vegetation including medicinal plants. Medicinal plants of xerophytic nature can survive for a long period. Some of them are perennial like Frankincense and Myrrh, both are considered as the indicators of the region. The other medicinal plant of region includes olive, camel grass, Nerium, Aloe vera, Eshvarak, rubber bush, etc. The whole region is covered by calcareous soil which has approximately 15% CaCO3. The soil is very poor in nutrient, and all major nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are found in very low amount or almost absent. Fertilizer application is generally needed to satisfy plant requirements of nutrient for obtaining profitable production. Most of the previous studies on soil are related soil amendment dealt with water scarcity. Little research has been conducted on nutrient application in both timing and doses of application in subtropical arid climates, such as that of Oman. However, some scientist tried to explain the requirement of nutrients of regional medicinal plants including the problem related to absorption of the nutrients, leaching, maintaining soil carbon level, nutrient carbon balances, and fertilizer effect. We tried to collect the information of previous work related to the role of nutrient in development of medicinal plants of Dhofar region and presented in this chapter briefly.