Effects of Conventional and Organic Fertilizers on Basil

Abstract: In this study, green herb and drug herb yields of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) grown in organic and conventional farming systems were examined. Primary plant nutrients, total essential oil contents (%), and essential oil components were investigated as well. In the conventional system, nutrient inputs included 15.15.15 and monopotassium phosphate (MKP) fertilizers, and in the organic system, nutrient inputs included bone meal + zeolite (BM+Z) and rock phosphate + zeolite (RP+Z). For conventionally grown basil, the highest green herb yield was 1027.5 kg/da, and the highest drug herb yield was 191.1 kg/da. Green herb and drug herb yields were 872.6 kg/da in the MKP plots under conventional farming and 196.3 kg/da in the bone meal + zeolite plots under organic farming. Analysis of primary plant nutrients showed that nitrogen and magnesium contents in the 15.15.15 fertilizer plots and phosphorus, potassium, and calcium contents in the MKP plots were higher. Rock phosphate + zeolite was the forefront application in the organic farming system. Essential oil yields were highest in the 15.15.15 treatment in the conventional farming system and in the control plot in the organic farming system. The most important essential oil component in both farming systems was linalool.

Reference: Tepecik, M., et al. (2014). Effects of Conventional and Organic Fertilizers on Plant Nutrition and Essential Oil Components of Basil. Fresenius Environmental Bulletin 23(5):1159-1165.