Fertilizer Application in Basil (Ocimum basilicum) Cultivation in Greece

Abstract

Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) is cultivated in many countries as an aromatic herb because of its essential oils that have many uses. In our study, nitrogen application at three levels and a tester was used, and effects on quantity and essential oil characteristics were recorded. The purpose was to explore nitrogen effects on essential oil of basil in Greece. Two commercial cultivars of basil were used: Red Rubin and Lettuce Leaf. The experiment conducted was a replicated fully randomized complete block split-split plot with the two varieties as the main factor, split factor was nitrogen levels (four rates) and split in time factor was sampling time (six dates). Nine characteristics were studied (chlorophyll content measurements-CCM, foliar surface, plant height, fresh weight, dry weight, leaves/stems ratio for fresh weight, leaves/stems ratio for dry weight, essential oil content of flowers and essential oil content of leaves). Basil plants were generally favoured by nitrogen application and many characteristics were improved. Especially for foliar surface, chlorophyll content, plant height and biomass weight (for both cultivars). Red Rubin exploited better nitrogen application in comparison to Lettuce leaf, especially for the second level. On the opposite, Lettuce leaf showed better essential oil production. The two cultivars differed also in the composition of essential oils with impact on essential oil properties. Finally, the biological cycle was accelerated for both cultivars because of increased metabolism after nitrogen application. Genotype × environment interaction was present in many cases, except for foliar surface, leaves/stem ratio and essential oil content of leaves.