The Effects of Winter Cover Crops and Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria on some Soil Fertility Aspects and Crop Yield in an Organic Production System of Ocimum basilicum L.

Sustainable agriculture systems emphasized on the on-farm inputs likes use of biofertilizers, crop rotation and cover crops. This experiment was conducted in a split plots arrangement with two factors based on randomized complete block design with three replications during years 2009-2010, at Research Farm of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. The main factor consisted of cultivation and no cultivation of cover crops in autumn. The sub factor was biofertilizer application with four levels, included 1-Nitroxin® (containing Azotobacter spp. and Azospirillum spp.), 2-Biophosphorous® (Bacillus sp. and Pseudomonas sp.), 3-Nitroxin® + Biophosphorous® and 4-Control. Results showed that most characteristics, e.g. seed yield and harvest index were increased with no cover crop cultivation. However in control treatment, the biological yield, seed yield and harvest index were more than biofertilizeres treatments, as Nitroxin® and Biophosphorous® ranked after the control. Amongst the biofertilizers, Biophosphorus® had the most positive effects. The maximum grain weight was obtained from Nitroxin®+ Biophosphorous® treatment. The interaction effects of biofertilizer and cover crops were significant among some characteristics. The results showed that the interaction between biofertilizers and no cover crop cultivation was significant, as use of the biofertilizers especially Nitroxin® and Biophosphorous® in no cover crop condition increased the amounts of biological yield and seed yield.