Effects of foliar-applied Aloysia citriodora and Cedrus atlantica essential oils on chickpea productivity and seed nutritional quality under field conditions

The ecological intensification of sustainable agriculture necessitates eco-friendly biostimulants to enhance crop productivity and nutritional quality. This study investigated the effects of foliar-applied essential oils (EOs) from Aloysia citriodora Palau and Cedrus atlantica (Endl.) Manetti ex Carrière on the growth, yield, nutritional composition, and antioxidant properties of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) under field conditions. Plants were treated weekly with EO emulsions at 500 or 1000 ppm from emergence through physiological maturity. Both EOs significantly enhanced vegetative growth (p < 0.05), with relative increases in shoot dry weight ranging from + 118.2% to + 185.4% across treatments compared to the untreated control. The most effective treatment was C. atlantica EO at 500 ppm, which maximized reproductive output by increasing seed yield by + 209.6%, pods per plant by + 155.6%, and seeds per plant by + 161.1% (all p < 0.05), while maintaining a stable seed morphology and harvest index. Seed biochemical analysis revealed that condensed tannin increased by up to + 1273.3% (p < 0.05), and DPPH radical-scavenging activity improved by up to + 56.8% (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the seed mineral composition showed a selective enhancement (p < 0.05), particularly for phosphorus (+ 25.5%) and potassium (+ 19.8%) under the A. citriodora EO treatment at 500 ppm. These findings indicate that the foliar application of EOs is a promising sustainable strategy for simultaneously enhancing chickpea productivity and nutritional value, offering significant implications for eco-friendly agricultural intensification and global food security.