Comparison of nano Fe and Fe chelate fertilizers on the quality and the quantity of Ocimum basilicum L. essential oil

Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) belongs to the Lamiaceae family. Sweet basil essential oil is used in food، medicine، and hygiene industries. In this study، the effect of different concentrations of nano iron chelate fertilizer (1، 3، 5 Kg. ha-1) and iron chelate fertilizer (1. 5، 4. 5، 7. 5kg. ha-1) on the quantity and quality of O. basilicum essential oil (EO) were investigated. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with four replications in a farm located in Saveh. After collecting the aerial parts of O. balilicum، the EO was extracted via water distillation method. Then، the EO was analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Sixteen components were identified in the EO of O. basilicum. The major components were methyl chavicol (37%)، geranial (26%)، neral (21%) and caryophyllene oxide (3. 5%)، respectively. Among different treatments، the means of 10 components showed significant differences. The mean of EO percentage in all samples، treated by Fe and nano Fe fertilizers، was more than that of control.