Agronomic Practices Affecting Yield and Phytochemical Composition of Thymus vulgaris: A Comprehensive Review

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) is one of the most important medicinal and aromatic plants in the world, holding a special place in the pharmaceutical, food, and health industries due to its valuable bioactive compounds, including thymol and carvacrol. The quality and quantity of these compounds are significantly influenced by environmental conditions (light intensity, particularly in direct sunlight), agricultural management (suitable fertilization and irrigation techniques), and postharvest practices. This study examines the primary factors and agronomic practices that influence thyme yield and quality. This narrative review is based on a thorough search of numerous scientific databases, including Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar, for relevant articles published up to November ۲۰۲۵. The search strategy included the terms “Thymus vulgaris,” “Garden thyme,” “Agronomic practices,” “Yield,” “Bioactive compounds,” “Essential oil,” “Thymol,” “Carvacrol,” “Environmental factors,” “Irrigation management,” “Fertilization,” “Harvest time,” and “Postharvest processing.” The results showed that light, temperature, climate, planting density and pattern, irrigation and plant nutrition, weed and pest control, and harvest timing are key factors in the yield and quality of phytochemicals. In addition, the use of organic and biological fertilizers, bio-stimulants, mycorrhiza, and endophytes, as well as foliar sprays of mineral elements and hormones, can increase production and maintain the quality of bioactive compounds. Overall, this research demonstrates that integrated and sustainable management approaches can significantly enhance the economic and medicinal value of garden thyme, providing farmers and the herbal industry with valuable insights to improve essential oil quality and yield.

کلیدواژه ها:

Garden thyme (Thymus vulgaris) ، Bioactive compounds ، essential oil ، agronomic management ، environmental conditions