Effects of Agronomic practices on Ocymum basilicum L. (Sweet Basil)

Abstract

Ocimum basilicum, belongs to the family Lamiaceae is commercially cultivated as a condiment i.e., for the production of essential oil. Other medicinal uses are to treat vomiting, diarrhea, various pains, and intestinal colic, improve kidney function and hyperl ipidemia. The Ocymum basilicum L. has neuro-protective, antioxidant, vasodilator, anti-inflammatory and hepato-protective effects. In the present day concern due to shortage of land availability people are more interested towards soilless cultivation. So pot experiment along with different soil and soilless treatment i.e., compost, cow dung, acidified manure, bagasse and rice husk, each having five replicates, at different ratio, was conducted in randomized complete block design (RCBD). The main objective of the study was to observe the growth behavior of Ocimum basilicum with different treatments. According to the results, all treatments such as cow dung (CD), compost (CP), acidified manure (AM), bagasse (BG), rice husk (RH) showed positive effects on root and shoot length of plants. The study revealed that in the prevailing climatic condition of Dera Gazi Khan, Punjab, Pakistan, it is possible to obtain a high yield of basil herb using an organic farming system. The study suggested that organic fertilizers should be the best alternative of synthetic or inorganic fertilizers. The study explored that the basil plants respond with all their growth parameters as better in treatments with organic materials like cow dung, composts, manure etc. So the experiments must raise the appeal to avoid the inorganic fertilizers for the protection of soil fertility and survival of cultivated plants.