Impact of fertilization and cuttings on growth and oil content of sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum)

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the impact o fertilization and number of cuttings on basil herb and its oil content in autumn and summer seasons under Khartoum conditions. The fertilizer treatments were NPK, Compost, Argel beside a control. Four cuttings were harvested in each season. The split plot design was used with 3 replicates, treatment where each replicate was composed of 3 pots each containing 5 basil plants, statically analysis of data using of Duncans multiple range tests were used to evaluate the treatment means ( at 5% level of significant). The results revealed the superiority of NPK for herb production followed by Argel. The highest oil content was obtained from Argel and the compost treatments. The number of cutting did not affected the oil content, but the herb yield decreased consistently with the number of cutting. The high herb yield coupled with low oil content upon NPK application might be compensated by Argel application that resulted in moderate herb yield coupled with high oil content.