Abstract
A field experiment in growing sweet basil was carried out in the period 2008-2010 in Fajsławice (Lublin region), on podzolic soil. The study evaluated the biometric traits of the plants, yield, the qualitative parameters of herbal raw material and weed infestation of the crop in dependence on growth simulators (Asahi SL, Bio-algeen, Titanit) and the forecrop (winter wheat or spring barley + white mustard cover crop). Plots without foliar application of the growth stimulators were the control treatment. Tillage, mineral NPK fertilization as well as mechanical and chemical weed control were typical for this plant species and consistent with the recommendations for herbal plant protection. A hypothesis was made that the application of growth stimulators would have a positive effect on basil productivity, raw material quality and weed infestation of the basil crop. It was also assumed that the phytosanitary and fertilizing effects of the cover crop would result in higher and qualitatively better yield compared to the cereal forecrop alone (winter wheat). The best quantitative parameters of sweet basil raw material and the highest reduction in air-dry weight of weeds in the crop were observed after the application of the growth stimulators. The forecrop - spring barley + a white mustard cover crop that is ploughed in - also had a beneficial effect on yield and weed infestation of the plant in question. The traditional crop protection method used in the basil crop, without the application of the growth stimulators, resulted in a lower plant height and a smaller number of shoots per plant. This caused higher weed infestation of the crop and a decrease in yield. The positive side of the non-application of growth stimulators was a better chemical composition of basil raw material. Asahi SL and Tytanit yielded the best growth and productivity of the basil plants.
Highlights
Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) belongs to a group of plants that should be characterized by high yields of raw material and a large amount of active substances contained in the plant, with a possibly low level of fertilization and limited rates of plant protection agents
The application of the growth stimulators had a significant effect on sweet basil plant height (Table 1)
Spraying the basil plantation with Asahi SL and Tytanit resulted in a ca. 12% increase in the height of the herbal plant (4.3 cm), compared to the control treatment, and a ca. 10% increase (3.4 cm) compared to the plants treated with the sea algae extract (Bio-algeen)
Summary
Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) belongs to a group of plants that should be characterized by high yields of raw material and a large amount of active substances contained in the plant, with a possibly low level of fertilization and limited rates of plant protection agents. In the opinion of Berbeć et al (2003), the application of biostimulators can play a major role in increasing yields and improving plant health. Biostimulators supply macro- and micronutrients to the plant, thereby increasing its resistance to pests. Biostimulators contain, for example, titanium (Titanit), sodium salts as well as ortho- and para-nitrophenolates (Ashai SL), or natural extracts from sea algae (Bioalgeen S 90). They activate metabolic processes in the plant, stimulate pollination, fertilisation, seed and fruit setting as well as increase resistance to fungal and bacterial diseases (Carvajal and Alcaraz , 1998). The above-mentioned preparations stimulate the development of the root system of plants, in this way making them resistant to adverse environmental conditions (P a i s , 1983; Carvajal and Alcaraz , 1998; Dobromilska et al 2008)
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