PRODUCTION OF SWEET BASIL ( Ocimum basilicum L.) IN THE NEW RECLAIMED LANDS UNDER DIFFERENT LEVELS OF BIOFERTILIZERS AND PLANT DENSITIES

Abstract

The response of sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) to different organic fertilization and plant density in the new reclaimed . lands was studied at the experimental farm of Sekem Company of Biodynamic Agriculture located at 21 km. on the Cairo El-lsmailia desert road during the two successive seasons of 1997 and 1998. Four organic fertiiization rates (15,25,35 and 45 m3/fed) in the first season and six rates (15,25,35,45,55 and 65 m3/fed) in the second season were applied in combination with four plant spacing (15,25,35 and 45 em). Increasing the organic fertilization rate (as compost) significantly increased the growth characters of basil plant i.e. plant height, number of branches, herb fresh and dry weights in addition to oil content /plant. The best fertilization rate was 45 m3/fed in the first season and 55m3/fed in the second season for fresh and dry weights of basil herb. The hightest oil content was obtained with the rate of 35 m3/fed in the first season and 45 m3/fed in the second season. Also, organic fertilization had a significant effect on sweet basil yield I feddan where the application of 45m3/fed surpassed that of 15m3/fed for both fresh herb and dry leaves yields by 66 and 56 % in the first season and by 35 and 37 % in the second season, respectively. The highest values of oil yield/fed were obtained from organic fertilization rates of 35 and 45 m3/fed which increased the oil yield by 38 and 33 % in the first and second seasons, respectively.