VARIATION IN THE YIELD AND ESSENTIAL OIL OF 4 CHAMOMILE VARIETIES GROWN IN FINLAND IN 1985-1988

Four chamomile (Matricaria recutita L.) varieties were grown at Puumal a, Finland (61-degrees-40' N, 28-degrees-15' E) in 1985-1989 from spri ng sowings on stony till soil, pH 5.8. The weather conditions in the e xperimental years were very different. For instance between 1987 and 1 988 there was a difference of 5,3-degrees-C in the mean temperature of the growing periods (May-September). The four-year average of the fre sh flower yield was 0.4 (0.1-0.7) kg/m2. The yields varied greatly dep ending on the number of harvests, which depended on the weather condit ions. One harvest could be obtained in 1986 and 1987, two in 1985 and three in 1988. In spite of the different weather conditions there were no differences in the content and composition of the essential oil di stilled from the dry flowers.