University of Tabriz Journal of Agricultural Science and Sustainable Production 2476-4310 36 2 2026 06 22 The Effect of Foliar Application of Micronutrients and Type of Seed Priming on the growth characteristics and essential oil yield of Savory (Satureia hortensis L.) The Effect of Foliar Application of Micronutrients and Type of Seed Priming on the growth characteristics and essential oil yield of Savory (Satureia hortensis L.) 47 60 21708 10.22034/saps.2025.63363.3291 FA Morteza Mohammadzadeh Dept. of Plant Production and Genetics, Faculty of Agriculture, Urmia University, Iran Reza Amirnia Dept. of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Urmia. Mahdi Ghiyasi Plant Production and Genetics 0000-0002-7746-8758 Sakini Abdi Assistant Professor, Ahar Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Tabriz University. Soheyla Mohammadi Alagoz Dep. of Plant Production and Genetics, Faculty of Agriculture, UrmiaUniversity, Urmia, Iran Journal Article 2024 10 09 <strong>Background & Objective:</strong> Savory (<em>Satureia hortensis</em> L.) is a medicinal plant whose essential oil contains valuable compounds such as carvacrol and thymol. Improving germination and micronutrient availability can enhance its quantitative and qualitative yields. However, few studies have examined the combined effects of seed priming and foliar application of micronutrients (especially in nano-form) on the growth and essential oil of savory. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of foliar application of zinc, iron, and manganese (conventional and nano) along with different seed priming methods on the growth characteristics and essential oil yield of savory.<br /> <br /><strong>Material and Methods:</strong>  A factorial RCBD experiment with three replications was conducted over two growing seasons (2019–2021) at Ahar, Iran. Factors: (1) seed priming at four levels (control, osmopriming with PEG 6000, hardening, hydropriming with distilled water for 24 h); (2) foliar application at seven levels (control water spray, conventional Zn/Fe/Mn sulfates, and nano‑chelates of Zn/Fe/Mn, all at 5 g L⁻¹). Measured traits: plant height, number of flowering branches, dry weight of branches and aerial parts, essential oil and oil yield (kg ha⁻¹). ANOVA was performed using SAS (v. 9.1) and means compared by the LSD test at p ≤ 0.05.<br /> <br /><strong>Results:</strong> The results indicated that the simultaneous application of osmopriming treatments and nano zinc had the greatest significant effect on increasing most growth components and essential oil yield in savory plants. So that this treatment increased the number of flowering stems, dry weight of flowering stems, dry weight of aerial parts, and the yield of savory essence by approximately 38%, 25%, 44%, and 43%, respectively, in the first year of the study and approximately 38%, 24%, 44%, and 40%, respectively, in the second year compared to the control treatment.<br /> <br /><strong>Conclusion:</strong> Overall, the results demonstrated that the simultaneous application of osmopriming of summer savory seeds along with foliar application of nano zinc with a concentration of 5 grams per liter is a promising method for increasing essential oil yield of Savory under similar climatic conditions. <strong>Background & Objective:</strong> Savory (<em>Satureia hortensis</em> L.) is a medicinal plant whose essential oil contains valuable compounds such as carvacrol and thymol. Improving germination and micronutrient availability can enhance its quantitative and qualitative yields. However, few studies have examined the combined effects of seed priming and foliar application of micronutrients (especially in nano-form) on the growth and essential oil of savory. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of foliar application of zinc, iron, and manganese (conventional and nano) along with different seed priming methods on the growth characteristics and essential oil yield of savory.<br /> <br /><strong>Material and Methods:</strong>  A factorial RCBD experiment with three replications was conducted over two growing seasons (2019–2021) at Ahar, Iran. Factors: (1) seed priming at four levels (control, osmopriming with PEG 6000, hardening, hydropriming with distilled water for 24 h); (2) foliar application at seven levels (control water spray, conventional Zn/Fe/Mn sulfates, and nano‑chelates of Zn/Fe/Mn, all at 5 g L⁻¹). Measured traits: plant height, number of flowering branches, dry weight of branches and aerial parts, essential oil and oil yield (kg ha⁻¹). ANOVA was performed using SAS (v. 9.1) and means compared by the LSD test at p ≤ 0.05.<br /> <br /><strong>Results:</strong> The results indicated that the simultaneous application of osmopriming treatments and nano zinc had the greatest significant effect on increasing most growth components and essential oil yield in savory plants. So that this treatment increased the number of flowering stems, dry weight of flowering stems, dry weight of aerial parts, and the yield of savory essence by approximately 38%, 25%, 44%, and 43%, respectively, in the first year of the study and approximately 38%, 24%, 44%, and 40%, respectively, in the second year compared to the control treatment.<br /> <br /><strong>Conclusion:</strong> Overall, the results demonstrated that the simultaneous application of osmopriming of summer savory seeds along with foliar application of nano zinc with a concentration of 5 grams per liter is a promising method for increasing essential oil yield of Savory under similar climatic conditions. https://sustainagriculture.tabrizu.ac.ir/article_21708_56170838105ebf1b84e202be93920128.pdf