Main Article Content

Abstract

The effect of mulching and nutrition on the growth and yield of sweet basil was examined by experimenting with four mulch treatments, viz., without mulch, black plastic, silver plastic, and organic mulch combined with four different nutrient compositions, viz., a 100% recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF), a combination of 75% RDF with humic acid, 75% RDF with microbial consortia and 75% RDF, and humic acid and microbial consortia, which served as sixteen treatment combinations with 100% RDF without mulch as a control. Among the different treatments, mulch had a significant effect on growth and yield parameters, with black plastic mulch having the maximum plant height (88.20 cm), number of branches (14.95), plant spread (5415 cm2), stem diameter (12.64 mm), fresh herbage yield (24.55 t/ha) and dry herbage yield (8.72 t/ha). Thus, the study revealed that among the various mulch treatments, black plastic mulch significantly enhanced the growth and yield parameters of sweet basil, demonstrating its efficacy in promoting optimal plant development and productivity.

Keywords

Growth Humic acid Microbial consortia Mulch Yield

Article Details

How to Cite
H, N., Prasad B. N., M., M. , S., G. K., H., H. S., P., & H. R., M. (2024). Effects of mulching and nutritional strategies on the growth and yield of sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.). Environment Conservation Journal, 25(3), 668–673. https://doi.org/10.36953/ECJ.26422774

References

  1. Abaas, I. S. (2014). Effect of biological competition of weeds on growth and volatile oil yield of marigold (Calendula officinalis L.) as medicinal plant used in herbal medicine of Iraq. International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 6 (1), 217-219.
  2. Akbari, G. A., Binesh, S., Ramshini, H., Soltani, E., Amini, F., Mirfazeli, M. S. (2019) Selection of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) full-sib families from diverse landraces. Journal of applied Research in Medicinal and Aromatic Plants. 12, 66-72. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jarmap.2018.12.003
  3. Ashrafuzzaman, M., Halim, M. A., Ismail, M. R., Shahidullah, S. M. & Hossain, M. A. (2011). Effect of plastic mulch on growth and yield of Chilli (Capsicum annuum L.). Brazilian Archives of Biology and Technology, 54 (2), 321-330. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/S1516-89132011000200014
  4. Aytac, Z., Gulbandılar, A. & Kurkçuo glu, M. (2022). Humic acid improves plant yield, antimicrobial activity and essential oil composition of Oregano (Origanum vulgare L. subsp. hirtum (Link.) Ietswaart). Agronomy, 12, 2086. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12092086
  5. Farooqi, A. A. & Sreeramu, B. S. (2004): Cultivation of medicinal and aromatic crops. University Press (India) Limited, Hyderabad.
  6. Giri, P., Pandey, S. T., Prajapati, B. K. & Jena, N. K. (2021). Effect of weed management practices on nutrient uptake and economics of Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum) cultivation in Tarai region of Uttarakhand. International Journal of Phytomedicines and Related Industries, 13 (3), 479-484. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5958/0975-6892.2021.00055.1
  7. Helaly, A. A., Goda, Y., El-Rehim, A. A. S., Mohamed, A. A. & El-Zeiny, O. A. (2017). Effect of polyethylene mulching type on the growth, yield and fruit quality of Physalis pubescens. Advances in Plants and Agriculture Research, 6 (5), 2-7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15406/apar.2017.06.00229
  8. Iqbal, R., Raza, M. A. S., Valipour, M., Saleem, M. F., Zaheer, M. S., Ahmad, S., Toleikiene, M., Haider, I., Aslam, M. U. & Nazar, M. A. (2020). Potential agricultural and environmental benefits of mulches-a review. Bulletin of the National Research Centre, 44, 1-16. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s42269-020-00290-3
  9. Jadhav, S. B., Katwate, S. M., Kakade, D. S. & Pawar, B. G. (2018). Effect of mulching on growth, yield and weed management in rose. International Journal of Chemical Studies, 6 (3), 2806-2808.
  10. Macik, M., Gryta, A. & Frac, M. (2020). Chapter Two - Biofertilizers in agriculture: An overview on concepts, strategies and effects on soil microorganisms. Advances in Agronomy, 162, 31-87. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.agron.2020.02.001
  11. Muralidharan, A.& Dhananjayan, R. (2004). Cardiac stimulant activity of Ocimum basilicum Linn. Extracts. Indian Journal of Pharmacology, 36, 163-166.
  12. Rajablariani, H. R., Hassankhan, F. & Rafezi, R. (2012). Effect of colored plastic mulches on yield of tomato and weed biomass. International Journal of Environmental Science and Development, 3 (6), 590-593. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7763/IJESD.2012.V3.291
  13. Ramesh, B. & Satakopan, V. N. (2010). In vitro antioxidant activities of Ocimum species: Ocimum basilicum and Ocimum sanctum. Journal of Cell and Tissue Research, 10 (1),
  14. Sarrou, E., Chatzopoulou, P., Koutsos, T. V. & Katsiotis, S. (2016). Herbage yield and essential oil composition of sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) under the influence of different mulching materials and fertilizers. Journal of Medicinal Plants Studies, 4 (1), 111-117.
  15. Sekeroglu, N., Cimen, G., Kulak, M. & Gezici, S. (2022). Plastic mulching or conventional cultivation of lavender flower: what influence on the yield, essential oil and their neuroprotective effects. Trakya University Journal of Natural Sciences, 23(1), 43-52. DOI: https://doi.org/10.23902/trkjnat.992275
  16. Sindhu, P. V. & Beena, C. (2022). Effect of growing condition and mulching management for enhancing yield and quality of Plectranthus vettiveroides (K. C. Jacob) N. P. Singh and B. D. Sharma. Journal of Crop and Weed, 18(1), 50-54. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22271/09746315.2022.v18.i1.1532
  17. Solberg, S. O. & Dragland, S. (2014). The effects of dark colored plastic, fiber and paper mulches on yield and aver-wintering of perennial herbs. Journal of Herbs, Spices and Medicinal Plants, 12 (1), 13-23. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1300/J044v12n01_02
  18. Thakur, M., Bhatt, V. & Kumar, R. (2019). Effect of shade level and mulch type on growth, yield and essential oil composition of damask rose (Rosa damascena Mill.) under mid hill conditions of Western Himalayas. PLoS ONE, 14 (4), 1-14. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0214672
  19. Verrillo, M., Cozzolino, V., Spaccini, R. & Piccolo, A. (2021). Humic substances from green compost increase bioactivity and antibacterial properties of essential oils in Basil leaves. Chemical and Biotrchnological Technologies in Agriculture, 8, 28. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40538-021-00226-7