Enhancing productivity and essential oil composition of Artemisia pallens Wall. ex DC through foliar application of silicon

Silicon has gained recognition for its crucial role in plant nutrition across various crops. However, its impact on medicinal and aromatic plants remains underexplored. Therefore, a field study was conducted at CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research Centre, Bengaluru, during 2022-23 and 2023-24 to determine the optimal silicon (Si) concentration for enhancing the productivity and essential oil quality of Artemisia pallens through foliar application. Results revealed that growth attributes, including plant height (44.67cm), number of branches (26.15), and stem girth (0.87cm), were significantly enhanced at 4% Si application, surpassing the control and recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) alone. Yield attributes followed a similar trend, with the highest flower diameter (4.90mm) and fresh (17.75t ha⁻¹) and dry (7.77t ha⁻¹) herbage yields at 4% Si. While essential oil recovery remained consistent, essential oil yield was significantly higher at 4% Si (26.50 kg ha⁻¹), displaying notable increments over lower Si levels. Correlation analysis of essential oil compounds revealed distinct biosynthetic linkages, with Cis-davanone dominating the composition. PCA further highlighted that moderate Si levels (4%) significantly improved metabolic and physiological responses, optimizing A. pallens performance. These findings establish 4% Si as an effective and sustainable approach to enhance growth, yield, and essential oil biosynthesis in A. pallens .