Effect of organic and inorganic-based nutrients on yield and quality of sweet basil grown in substrate culture

This study was carried out in an unheated, naturally ventilated, North-South oriented and PE covered Quonset type greenhouse constructed on the land of the private grower in Pınarhisar, Kırklareli (41°62' K, 27°59' D), aiming to determine the effects of the organic and mineral fertilizers on fresh and dry yield and quality of sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) grown in substrate culture. Seeds of an open pollinated, broad leafed sweet basil cultivar sown in vials filled with peat (Klasman TS1). Seedlings at 2-3 true-leafed stage were transplanted in cocopeat- filled bags with length 100cm, width 15cm and height 10cm, and placed in troughs that were constructed 40cm above soil level. In order to investigate the effects of fertilizers two organic and one mineral fertilizer regimes applied to plants during the vegetation period between September 18th and December 4th in 2019. As organic fertilizer sources a commercial pelleted compost (Organoferm) and commercial vermicompost (Vermis), both with organic certification in Turkey, were used. In mineral fertilizer regimes full strength liquid fertilizer prepared for soilless practices was applied thorough the growing period. Since the nutritional content of organic fertilizers differed, applied amount of fertilizers were determined to limit nitrogen as to 1,1g for each plant in total and corresponding amount of fertilizers to 80% of the total 1.1g/plant N was mixed to substrate 35 days before transplanting and remaining 20% parts were applied to substrate by spreading under drippers 18 days after transplanting/28 days before harvesting. The data regarding fresh and dry yields, plant height, stem diameter, number of internodes, number of stems, leaf length and leaf numbers were highest with the pelleted compost. It was determined that both fresh and dry yield of sweet basil increased with pelleted compost and reached to 195,9kg/da and 22,33kg/da, respectively. The lowest fresh and dry yields were obtained from vermicompost applied plants with 73,9kg/da and 7,7kg/da, respectively.