Effects of environmental factors on herbaceous plant diversity in an organic cultivation of sage (Salvia officinalis l.) in a typical mediterranean climate

Abstract

Sage (Salvia officinalis L.) is a perennial aromatic-medicinal plant that is commonly cultivated for pharmaceutical uses through the Mediterranean basin. The purpose of this study was to examine the herbaceous plant diversity (plant species richness), composition and their utilization as well as the relationships between herbaceous plant species richness and driving factors (e.g. soil pH, organic matter, temperature, minerals etc) in the organic cultivation of Sage in central Greece. The results showed that the most frequently occurring species were: Papaver rhoeas L., Chenopodium album L., Fumaria officinalis L. and Urtica dioica L. Our data suggested that these plants constitute important soil indicators which could be used to monitor the state of soils along with assessing the role of soil in environmental interactions. According to Principal Component Analysis (PCA), herbaceous plant species richness was positively correlated to soil organic matter, temperature and moisture, P and K in the organic cultivation of Sage. The results of this study highlight the ecological value of the organic sage cultivation and how it can be a useful tool for the ecosystem’s environmental protection, the wider scientific community and the general public during the current economic crisis. © 2020, University of Montenegro. All rights reserved.