Efficiency of composted vinasse in the production of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) under greenhouse conditions

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of vinasse, which is known to be a good source of organic matter and potassium in the production of an aromatic plant. In this context, the vinasse, which is a food industry waste, was composted and applied to the soil alone and mixed with chemical fertilizers in different doses [Only chemical fertilization-control (C), vinasse compost 0.5 t ha-1 (VC-0.5), vinasse compost 0.5 t ha-1 + chemical fertilization 0.5 t ha-1 (VC-0.5+CF), vinasse compost 1 t ha-1 (VC-1), vinasse compost 1 t ha-1 + chemical fertilization 1 t ha-1 (VC-1+CF)] and thus, basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) was produced under greenhouse conditions. Plants were harvested three times in a row when they reached the flowering period. Morphological (number of branches, flower spike height, plant height, fresh weight), agronomic (green herb/drug yield, dry weight) and technological (essential oil ratio, essential oil composition, color value) parameters were examined in the harvested samples. According to the results obtained; while the highest fresh weight, green herb yield and dry weight were obtained by VC+CF, the highest essential oil ratio in the plant was observed in VC. The striking point here is that these results were obtained with 0.5 t ha-1 application rate of the compost. The findings obtained from this study reveal that the compost can be used in basil cultivation together with chemical fertilization.