Evaluation the effects of organic, biological and chemical fertilizers on morphological traits, yield and yield components of Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.)

The use of organic manure and biofertilizers containing beneficial microorganisms instead of chemical fertilizers are known to improve plant growth through supply of plant nutrients and can help sustain environmental health and soil productivity. Because of special priority of the medicinal plants production in sustainable agricultural systems and lack of studies on assessment of different sources of fertilizer on basil plants, an experiment was conducted at Research Station, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran, in 2009. A complete randomize block design with ten treatments, and three replications was used. The treatments were: 1)cow manure, 2)sheep manure, 3)hen manure, 4)compost 5)vermicompost, 6)biological fertilizer nitroxin (consisting of Azotobacter and Azospirillum), 7)biological fertilizer consisting of Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria (Pseudomonas and Bacillus), 8)mixture of biological fertilizer nitroxin and Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria 9)NPK fertilizers, and 10)control (no fertilizer). Results showed plant height in sheep manure was higher than other treatments. Number of branches in vermicompost and number of inflorescence in cow manure were significantly higher than other treatments. The number of whorled flowers in compost, sheep and cow manure were more than other treatments. Highest leaf and green area index was observed in nitroxin treatment and biological yield in sheep manure have significant difference with other treatments (except cow manure). The highest seed yield were obtained from plants treated with compost (1945 kg/h) and the lowest of that observed in NPK fertilizer and control treatments. In all measured traits (except number of inflorescence) NPK fertilizer and control treatment did not have any significant difference.