Effect of NPK and Bio-Fertilizers Rates on the Vegetative Growth and Oil Yield of Ocimum basillicum L. Plants

Abstract

The present study was designed to investigate the response of Ocimum basilicum L. plants to four rates of NPK (0, 50, 75 and 100% of recommended) and four treatments of active dry yeast (ADY) as biofertilizer (0, 2, 4, and 6 g l -1 ) and their combinations. The recommended dose of NPK (100%) was 11.11, 7.41 and 3.70 g plant -1 of ammonium sulphate (20.5% N), calcium super phosphate (15.5 P 2 O 5 ) and potassium sulphate (48.5% K 2 O), respectively.The experiment was carried out during the growing seasons of 2012 and 2013 at Agric. Research Station, Alex. Univ., Egypt. The result showed that 100% of NPK combined with ADY at 4 and/ or 6 g l -1 gave the highest value of vegetative growth characters (plant height, number of branches, number of leaves, leaf area and leaves dry weight) in the two cuts of the two seasons as well as the greatest content of total chlorophyll, oil percentage and linalool, eucalyptol percentage in the oil of basil leaves. The highest significant increase in the Estragol and trans-4-methoxycinamaldehyde percentage in the oil of basil leaves were obtained by using 50 or 75% dose of NPK in combination with 4g l -1 of ADY.