Behaviour of marjoram (Origanum vulgare L.) clones in relation to climaticvariables

A random block assay was carried out in the Cerrillos Department, Province of Salta, Argentina, in order to assess the behaviour of three marjoram (Or iganum vulgare L.) clones: Peruvian, Mendocino and Italian, which were sown on April 17, 1995. The MatLab, MicroCalc and TBLcurve programmes were used to analyse rainfall s, mean maximum and minimum temperatures, mean humidity, relative heliophan y and frosts. The first three variables can be expressed as root y = a + bx + cx(2) + dx(3) + ex(4) + fx(5) were (x) under bar stands for time and (y) under bar for the value of rainf all, mean maximum and mean minimum temperatures according to the date under consideration. Throughout the period of the assay, none of the values recorded for the abo ve variables differed significantly from those that are characteristic of t he area. The Mendocino and Peruvian clones exhibited an excellent growth the Italian one, however, produced only small mats. Two harvests were effected, one in October 14, 1995 and the other on March 5, 1996. The yields obtained were 17,691 kg/ha for the Peruvian, 17,361 for the Mendocino and 8,201 for the Italian clone.