Ecological production of lavenders in Cuenca province (Spain). A study of yield production and quality of the essential oils

In the present paper, we present a description of the ecological agriculture of different lavenders in Cuenca province (Spain). We focused on the important aromatic crops of Lavandula angustifolia (lavender) and on three varieties of Lavandula × intermedia (lavandin) called name abrial, rosso and super. A description of yield production and essential oil qualities obtained in our experimental fields are presented. Lavandin var. super showed the best essential oil quality with good yield production as well. The current market of Fragrant and Medicinal Plants claims raw materials with confirmed quality, with good practices of harvesting, transformation and manufacture by means of ecological production. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]