Nebraska's new cash crop - mint?

By Scout Nelson

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Panhandle Research Extension and Education Center has recently focused on enhancing the viability of mint farming in western Nebraska. Dipak Santra, an alternative crops breeding specialist, initiated this exploration due to a local farmer's interest in mint cultivation upon returning from Idaho.

Santra secured a USDA Specialty Crops Grant to determine which peppermint and spearmint varieties would thrive in the region. His findings revealed distinct growth patterns and harvest times for peppermint and spearmint, with the latter showing faster growth and more frequent harvests.

The research expanded to study nitrogen application's impact on mint production. Working with soil and nutrient management specialist Bijesh Maharjan, and graduate assistant Sujani De Silva, the team investigated the optimal nitrogen levels for mint.

They explored different nitrogen sources, including urea and polymer-coated urea (PCU), to assess their effects on mint's dry matter yield and oil concentration.

"Our next question was how much nitrogen to use on the crop. I found out farmers were using up to 240 lbs. of nitrogen per acre, which is higher than what is put on corn," Santra said. De Silva's findings in 2023 showed that higher nitrogen levels from PCU enhanced peppermint's yield significantly compared to urea.

The studies highlighted the importance of optimized nitrogen management, not only for improving mint yields but also for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

"The results suggest that the N application can be optimized to improve the performance of sustainable mint production using advanced fertilizer technology such as PCU," De Silva commented.

The research highlights the need for more comprehensive data to determine optimal nitrogen rates for sustainable mint production, suggesting a potential shift in agricultural practices that could benefit farmers and the environment, highlighting the complexities of mint as a specialty crop in Nebraska.

Photo Credit -nebraska-extenstion