Effect of Vermicompost on Green Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) under Water Stress and Soil Characteristics after Harvest

One of the most important factors limiting the growth and yield of plants is moisture stress. The purpose of this experiment was to investigate the effect of different levels of vermicompost and moisture stress on some plant and soil characteristics after harvesting basil. The experiment was performed as a factorial experiment in a completely randomized design with two factors and three replications in the greenhouse of the Faculty of Agriculture, Lorestan University. Treatments consisted of four vermicompost levels (0, 10, 20, and 30 g kg-1soil) and three moisture levels (no stress), 75%, and 55% of field capacity (FC). The results showed that the highest fresh weight (58.96 g.pot-1), dry weight (5.9 g.pot-1) and shoot phosphorus concentration (0.42%) were observed in the treatment without moisture stress and with application of 30 g of vermicompost, and the lowest amounts of fresh and dry weight and shoot phosphorus were observed in the highest level of moisture stress and non-application of vermicompost. The results also showed that the highest concentrations of nitrogen (4.74%) and potassium (3.90%) of shoots were observed at the highest level of moisture stress and application of 30 g of vermicompost. In the soil after harvest, the highest concentrations of nitrogen (0.2%) and available phosphorus (26.25 mg kg-1) were observed in 30 g.kg-1 treatment of vermicompost with moisture stress (55% FC), and the lowest was observed in the control treatment. Considering these results, it can be stated that vermicompost has positive effects on increasing the growth of basil under water stress.