ECOLOGY AND CULTIVATION ASSESSMENT OF THYME (THYMUS VULGARIS L.) IN THE CANTON VALAIS, SWITZERLAND

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) is a Mediterranean species which has no natural habitat in Switzerland. However, cultivation of thyme, as well as of other Mediterranean species, is an interesting possibility in certain parts of Switzerland, essentially in mountainous regions. Such cultivations can provide an additional income to mountain farmers. Thus, they might help to limit the exodus of agricultural activities to lower regions which is quite pronounced in many parts of Switzerland.

The project described here aims at defining in more detail the environment required for the cultivation of thyme with a view to acquire the possibility of achieving a product of sufficiently high yield and superior quality. It is of particular interest to verify if certain climatic conditions prevailing in the mountains of the Canton of Valais would allow not only sufficient plant development but would provide even cultures exceptional in quantity as well as quality. Indeed, the Canton Valais is the driest region of Switzerland with continental and sub-Mediteranean climatic conditions.

For the purpose of defining the ecological factors required, an attempt has been made to correlate the success of thyme cultivation with micro-climatic and edaphic data as well as with a botanical study within the cultivated areas, the adjacent meadows and wastelands. In fact, the composition of the flora determines in an integral way the numerous physical-chemical factors of a site.