Yogesh Kumar, Abhineet, Ram Suresh Sharma, Rakesh Kumar and Shaba Siddiqui
Abstract
Integrated nutrient management represents a dynamic ecologicalâphysiological framework for optimizing herbage yield and essential oil quality in Mentha arvensis L. by synchronizing nutrient supply with plant metabolic demand. The integration of mineral fertilizers with organic amendments and biofertilizers enhances nutrient-use efficiency, rhizospheric activity, and assimilate partitioning, thereby improving both biomass accumulation and monoterpene biosynthesis. Balanced nutrient regimes stabilize carbon â nitrogen interactions and enzymatic processes governing menthol production, resulting in improved oil content, compositional integrity, and industrial acceptability. Concurrently, organic inputs enhance soil organic carbon, microbial biomass, and enzymatic activity, ensuring sustained nutrient cycling and long-term soil fertility. Comparative evidence indicates that integrated systems outperform sole chemical fertilization by delivering higher and more stable productivity while maintaining ecological balance. This synthesis establishes integrated nutrient management as a scientifically robust and sustainable strategy for high-quality mint production under intensifying agricultural systems.