Optimization of citronella oil production and quality through elevation based land mapping and distillation techniques

This study evaluates the impact of land characteristics and distillation methods on the productivity and quality of citronella oil ( Cymbopogon nardus ) in the Gayo Highlands. The objective of this research is to assess how factors such as elevation, soil pH, organic carbon content, cation exchange capacity (CEC), and base saturation (BS) influence citronella oil productivity, as well as to compare the effectiveness of electric and traditional distillation methods at various altitudes on the quality of citronella oil. The research method involved the collection of soil samples and chemical analysis of citronella oil using Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) from six altitude classes (200–400 m asl to >1200 m asl), and statistical regression and canonical discriminant analysis to identify significant factors influencing land characteristics on citronella oil productivity. The results showed that electric distillation produced higher and more consistent citronellal content at all altitudes (52.35 ± 3.35 % to 55.97 ± 8.31 %), surpassing the Indonesian National Standard (INS), while traditional distillation resulted in higher geraniol content (14.18 ± 1.88 % to 16.31 ± 0.50 %). Elevations between 600 and 1200 m asl yielded the highest citronella oil productivity, supported by optimal soil pH (5.3–6.5), organic carbon content (>4 %), and base saturation (40–60 %). These findings suggest that selecting the appropriate distillation method and a strategic cultivation location can improve both the quality and productivity of citronella oil, thus supporting production that meets the INS standards and enhancing competitiveness in the global market.