Nitrogen and potassium nutrition of French basil (Ocimum basilicum Linn.)

Nitrogen and potassium nutrition of French basil (Ocimum basilicum Linn.)

2007

E04253

Studies were undertaken on red sandy loam soil (Kandiustalf) in a semi-arid tropical climate at Bangalore (Karnataka) to find out the effect of fertilizer application in influencing oil production, quality and soil fertility in French basil (Ocimum basilicum). The study showed that application of nitrogen (up to 100 kg ha-1) increased herb and essential oil yields in the main crop, first ratoon and second crop while potassium application (up to 80 kg ha-1) increased the yields in the second ratoon and second crop suggesting that soil potassium depletion occurred with time. Nitrogen application increased methyl chavicol (by 4.1%) and decreased linalool (by 14.2%) contents in basil oil. Yield increases were accompanied by higher removal of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium from soil (by 247%, 23% and 94%, respectively) by the crop and lower amounts of exchangeable potassium (by 37.8 %) in soil. Due to the depletion of soil potassium, interactions between nitrogen and potassium were significant in the second crop of basil. Application of 100 kg nitrogen ha-1 and 80 kg potassium ha-1 gave optimum yield and quality of oil.

v.16(2):99-105, JOURNAL OF SPICES AND AROMATIC CROPS

Research > Published Articles