Studies were undertaken on red sandy loam soil (Kandiustalf) in a semi-arid tropical climateat Bangalore (Karnataka) to find out the effect of fertilizer application in influencing oilproduction, quality and soil fertility in French basil (Ocimum basilicum). The study showedthat application of nitrogen (up to 100 kg ha-1) increased herb and essential oil yields in themain crop, first ratoon and second crop while potassium application (up to 80 kg ha-1)increased the yields in the second ratoon and second crop suggesting that soil potassiumdepletion occurred with time. &nbsp;Nitrogen application increased methyl chavicol (by 4.1%) anddecreased linalool (by 14.2%) contents in basil oil. Yield increases were accompanied by higherremoval of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium from soil (by 247%, 23% and 94%,respectively) by the crop and lower amounts of exchangeable potassium (by 37.8 %) in soil.Due to the depletion of soil potassium, interactions between nitrogen and potassium weresignificant in the second crop of basil. Application of 100 kg nitrogen ha-1&nbsp;and 80 kg potassiumha-1&nbsp;gave optimum yield and quality of oil.
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R S Ganesha Rao, S Ramesh, E V S Prakasa Rao, K Puttanna,

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99IntroductionOcimum basilicum Linn., commonly known asFrench basil or sweet basil is an importantaromatic plant cultivated in many parts ofthe world for its essential oil.  In India, sweetbasil is mainly cultivated in Assam, Bihar,Jammu, Madhya Pradesh, Maharastra, UttarPradesh and West Bengal. A fertilizer dose of100:40:40 N: P2O5: K2O has been recommendedfor basil (Dhar 2002). Packages for productionof basil oil are being developed in a semi-aridtropical climate in South India, where avariety of commercially important essentialoils are produced (Rao et al. 2000a).  It is acommon practice by farmers who owndistillation units and specialize in productionof aromatic crops to grow the same croprepeatedly. The present study deals withimproved methods for the production of goodquality basil oil by application of nitrogenand potassium.Materials and methodsThe field experiment was conducted during2000–01 at Central Institute of Medicinal andAromatic Plants, Resource Centre, Bangalore.Bangalore is located at an altitude of 930 mMSL and the climate is semi-arid tropical.The soil is  red sandy loam (Kandiustalf) withpH 5.87, electrical conductivity 0.05dS m-1,organic carbon 3.7g kg-1, Olsen’s P2O5 17.7 kgNitrogen and potassium nutrition of French basil (Ocimum basilicum Linn.)E V S Prakasa Rao, K Puttanna, R S Ganesha Rao & S RameshCentral Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Resource CentreAllalasandra, Bangalore-560065, India.E-mail: cimapfsbangalore@vsnl.netReceived 17 October 2006; Revised 16 July 2007; Accepted 4 October 2007AbstractStudies were undertaken on red sandy loam soil (Kandiustalf) in a semi-arid tropical climateat Bangalore (Karnataka) to find out the effect of fertilizer application in influencing oilproduction, quality and soil fertility in French basil (Ocimum basilicum). The study showedthat application of nitrogen (up to 100 kg ha-1) increased herb and essential oil yields in themain crop, first ratoon and second crop while potassium application (up to 80 kg ha-1)increased the yields in the second ratoon and second crop suggesting that soil potassiumdepletion occurred with time.  Nitrogen application increased methyl chavicol (by 4.1%) anddecreased linalool (by 14.2%) contents in basil oil. Yield increases were accompanied by higherremoval of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium from soil (by 247%, 23% and 94%,respectively) by the crop and lower amounts of exchangeable potassium (by 37.8 %) in soil.Due to the depletion of soil potassium, interactions between nitrogen and potassium weresignificant in the second crop of basil. Application of 100 kg nitrogen ha-1 and 80 kg potassiumha-1 gave optimum yield and quality of oil.Keywords: essential oil, French basil,  nitrogen, Ocimum basilicum, potassium.Journal of Spices and Aromatic CropsVol. 16 (2) : 99–105 (2007)         Indian Society for Spices100ha-1 and exchangeable K2O 143.8 kg ha-1.  Basilseeds were sown in the nursery on 4 October2000 and the seedlings were planted in 3.6 mx 3.6 m beds at a spacing of 30 cm x 30 cm on15 November 2000.  The treatments consistingof all combinations of N levels (0, 100, 200 kgha-1) and K levels (0, 40, 80 kg K2O ha-1) werearranged in a factorial randomized blockdesign with three replications.  The entirequantity of K and a common dose of 40 kgP2O5 ha-1 were applied as basal dose, whereas,N was applied in 2-monthly equal splits.  Nwas applied in the form of urea, P2O5 as superphosphate and K2O as muriate of potash. Onemain crop and two ratoons were taken at fullbloom on 5 February 2001, 20 March 2001 and25 April 2001, respectively.  Nitrogen alonewas applied at half the rates to the ratooncrops.  After the second ratoon, the crop wasremoved and again 50-day old seedlings wereplanted on 1 May 2001 on the same plot withthe same treatments as in the case of the firstcrop.  The second crop was harvested on 16August 2001.At each harvest, herb samples of basil weredistilled in a Clevenger type apparatus foressential oil determination.  Moisture in theherb was determined gravimetrically induplicate samples by drying to constantweight in a hot air oven at 80°C. The driedmaterial was preserved for nutrient analysis.The oil samples were collected, dried overanhydrous sodium sulphate and wereanalysed in a Perkin Elmer (PE 8000) gaschromatograph for the major constituents,methyl chavicol and linalool.  The gaschromatograph was equipped with a BP-1column (methyl polysiloxane stationaryphase),  and flame ionization detector.Nitrogen was used as carrier gas at 10 psiinlet pressure and temperature wasprogrammed from 60 to 220°C at 5°C min-1.Peak identification was done by co-injectionwith authentic compounds and also bycalculating Kovat’s index.  Essential oil yieldswere calculated based on herb yields andmean oil contents.The dried plant samples were powdered in aWiley Mill and analysed for N, P and K.  Soilsamples were collected soon after takingsecond ratoon of first crop on 25 April 2001and after harvest of second crop on 17 August2001 and analysed for Olsen’s P andexchangeable K.  The data were statisticallyanalysed by analysis of variance method(Cochran & Cox 1957).Results and discussionThe main crop of basil yielded higher quantityof herb; on an average, the herb yielddecreased by 30.8%, 72.6% and 50.0% in thefirst and second ratoon and the second crop,respectively, from the main crop yields (Table1).  Herb yields obtained were higher thanearlier findings but they were in agreementwith the yield levels reported by Gulati et al.(1978). Basil responded to N application inthe main and first ratoon crop up to 100 and50 kg N ha-1, respectively (Table1).  There wasno response to N application in the secondratoon.  Application of K2O did not affect theherb yield of basil in the main and first ratooncrops; however, in the second ratoon, theplots that had received a basal dose of 80 kgK2O ha-1 yielded significantly higherquantities of herb.  This may be due todepletion of soil K with time.  Although theinteraction effect of N and K on the yield ofbasil was not significant in any of the threeharvests, in order to test whether it becomessignificant in another crop of basil, a secondcrop of basil was taken in the same plots withthe same treatments.  In the second crop, bothmain effects of N and K and their interactioneffect were significant (Tables. 1 and 2). Basilresponded to application of 100 kg N ha-1 onlywhen 80 kg K2O ha-1 was applied in thesecond crop.  Lack of response to K in theinitial stages and definite response in the laterstages indicates depletion of K in the soil withthe progress of time and availability of Kfinally becomes a limiting factor for growthand yield of basil.As in the case of herb yields, oil yields alsoreduced with progress of time (Table 1).  Themean yields of oil were 55.7, 44.6, 21.8 and33.6 l ha-1 in the main crop, first ratoon,second ratoon and the second crop,Rao et al.101Table 1.  Effect of N and K application on herb and oil yield of first crop of basilTreatment           Herb yield  (t ha-1)                   Oil yield (l ha-1)(kg N ha-1 year-1)Main First Second Total Main First Second Total Secondcrop ratoon ratoon crop ratoon ratoon cropN level*0 4.28 4.29 3.10 11.67 19.9 22.0 20.7 62.6 17.8100 16.08 9.83 3.15 29.03 75.8 50.3 20.7 146.8 38.6200 16.62 11.46 3.85 31.91 77.5 58.7 25.4 161.6 41.8SE±m 1.02 0.96 1.40 1.66 23.2 4.9 2.9 9.4 4.0CD (P=0.05) 2.10 1.97 NS 3.40 47.7 8.6 NS 19.3 8.1K level*0 11.60 7.63 2.91 22.14 54.0 39.1 19.2 112.3 29.240 12.12 8.89 3.17 24.17 56.4 45.6 20.8 122.8 29.980 13.20 9.04 4.06 26.30 61.5 46.3 26.7 134.5 39.2SE±m 1.02 0.96 0.40 1.66 23.2 8.6 2.9 9.4 4.0CD (P=0.05) NS NS 1.09 NS NS NS 5.9 16.5 8.1* Only N at half the above rates was applied to ratoons; NS=Not significant; Interaction of N and K was not significantTable 2. Interaction effect of N and K application on herb and oil yield of second crop of basilN level                                              Herb yield (t ha-1)                        Oil yield (l ha-1)(kg  N ha-1 year-1)                                              K level                                 K level(kg K2O ha-1 year-1)                       (kg K2O ha-1 year-1)0 40 80 0 40 800 4.37 2.81 2.81 23.2 15.0 15.0100 5.74 6.36 9.63 30.6 34.0 51.3200 6.29 7.62 9.58 33.6 40.7 51.1SE±m 1.28 6.6CD (P=0.05) 2.63 14.0respectively.  There was response to N up to100 kg ha-1 in the first harvest and secondcrop and up to 50 kg ha-1 in the first ratoon(Table 1). The effect of K and the interactionof N and K on basil oil yields were notsignificant.  There was no significant responseto N in the second ratoon.  However, therewas response to K in the second ratoon andin the second crop.  Application of 80 kg K2Oha-1 increased basil oil yields over control butapplication of 40 kg K2O ha-1 and control wereon par.  In the second crop, interaction effectof N and K on basil oil yields was alsosignificant (Table 2).  High yields of basil oilwere produced when both N at 100 or 200 kgha-1 and K2O at 80 kg ha-1 were applied.The oil content in basil is generally notaffected by application of N and K, exceptoccasionally (Gulati et al. 1978).  The meanoil content on dry basis was 2.78%.  The oilcontent in aromatic crops is mainlygenetically controlled. In the main and secondcrops combination of high levels of N and Kslightly decreased oil content in basil.Composition of oilMethyl chavicol: Higher application of N (100or 200 kg ha-1) significantly increased theconcentration of methyl chavicol in basil oil(Table 3).Linalool: Application of N (100 or 200 kgha-1) significantly decreased the concentrationNitrogen and potassium nutrition of basil102of linalool in basil oil (Table 3). Methylchavicol and linalool were negativelycorrelated (r*=-0.84).   The essential oilcomposition of several aromatic crops werereported to be unaffected by application offertilizers (Rao 1992; Puttanna et al. 2001).However, in some short duration aromaticcrops like Tagetes minuta L. (Rao et al. 2000b)and Foeniculum vulgare Mill. (Kahn et al. 1999),changes in essential oil composition due tofertilizer application have been reported.Gulati et al. (1978) also reported about 4%increase in methyl cinnamate content in achemotype of basil oil on application of 120kg ha-1 N.Nitrogen contentThe N content in basil was not affected bytreatments (data not presented).  The mean Ncontent in the main crop, first ratoon, secondratoon and the second crop of basil were1.81%, 1.41%, 1.36% and 1.49%, respectively.Nitrogen content in basil was negativelycorrelated with linalool content (r*=-0.53) andit was positively correlated with methylchavicol content (r*=0.61) in basil oil.Potassium contentThe K content in basil was not affected bythe treatments in the first crop (Table 4).When no K was applied, the concentrationof this element in basil decreased in successiveharvests.  This might be due to decreasingsupply of K to basil.  Potassium supply fromthe soil might have been sufficient for themain crop; therefore there was no increasein K content on its application. Insubsequent harvests,  application of Ndecreased K content in basil.  This might havebeen caused by the dilution effect of increasedherb yields due to N application over control.Phosphorus contentApplication of N up to 200 kg ha-1 decreasedthe P content in basil significantly.  In thefirst ratoon, application of N up to 100 kgha-1 decreased the P content.  In the secondratoon, application of N at 50 or 100 kg ha-1decreased the P content but 50 and 100 kg Ntreatments were on par.  Application of K at80 kg ha-1 increased the P contentsignificantly (Table 4),  which waspronounced in 100 and 200 kg ha-1 N levels.In the second crop, application of 200 or 100kg ha-1 N were on par.The decrease in P content in basil on Napplication may be caused by dilution effectof increased herb yields.  Puttanna (2000)observed similar dilution effect in citronella.The increase in P content on application of KTable 3. Effect of N and K on quality of basil oilTreatment                 First crop (Main)         First ratoon          Second ratoon             Second crop(kg ha-1 year-1)% L % M % L % M % L % M % L % MN level*0 27.4 66.6 31.9 61.6 28.7 66.0 26.8 65.3100 24.2 60.9 26.8 66.6 27.7 68.0 24.9 67.0200 23.2 71.5 25.6 60.8 25.5 69.5 24.2 68.2SE±m 0.73  0.75 0.52 0.51 0.90 0.59 0.63 0.66CD (P=0.05) 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.8 1.2 1.3 1.4K level*0 25.1 69.9 27.8 65.6 27.7 67.7 25.7 66.440 24.8 68.7 28.3 65.4 27.6 67.7 25.4 67.180 24.9 68.8 28.1 65.1 26.6 68.2 24.8 67.2SE±m 0.73 0.75 0.52 0.50 0.90  0.59 0.63 0.66CD (P=0.05) NS NS NS NS NS NS NS NS*Only N at half the above rates were applied to ratoons; M=Methyl chavicol; L=Linalool; NS=Not significantRao et al.103might be because uptake of K as a cationfacilitated the uptake of P in anionic forms.Nitrogen uptakeIn each harvest, application of N up to thehighest level significantly increased N uptake(Table 5).  The main effect of K on N uptakewas not significant in any harvest.  However,the interaction effect of N and K applicationwas significant in the main crop, first ratoon,as well as the second crop.  In general,application of K increased the uptake of N.Nitrification of applied N is known to be rapidin these soils (Puttanna 2000).  Uptake of Kin cationic form might have facilitated theuptake of nitrate.Potassium uptakeIn general, application of a high dose ofnitrogen increased the uptake of K (Table 5).There was no significant increase in theuptake of K due to application of K in themain crop but in all subsequent harvests Kuptake was increased by K application.  Inthe second crop, the interaction effect of Nand K was also significant.  When no N wasapplied, application of K to the soil was noteffective in increasing the uptake of K bybasil.Phosphorus uptakeApplication of N up to 200 kg ha-1 increasedP uptake by the main crop (Table 5).  In thefirst ratoon, application of N up to 100 kgha-1 increased P uptake by basil.  In thesecond ratoon, application of N had nosignificant effect on uptake of P by basil.  Onthe other hand, application of K2O at 80 kgha-1 increased the uptake of P significantlyover control as well as over application of K2Oat 40 kg ha-1.  Application of N up to 200,100, 100 kg ha-1 for the main crop, first ratoonand second ratoon, respectively, increased thetotal uptake of P by basil.  None of thetreatments had any effect on the uptake of Pby the second crop.Exchangeable potassium in soilExchangeable K in the soil decreased due tocultivation of basil.  Application of N up to200, 100, 100 kg ha-1 for the main crop, firstratoon and second ratoon, respectively,resulted in  decrease in soil exchangeable K2Oafter the first crop from 143.8 to 77.6 kg ha-1.Application of K2O to basil at 80 kg ha-1resulted in a higher level of soil exchangeableK2O  (100.1 kg ha-1), than when no K wasapplied (76.5 kg ha-1).  After the second crop,Table 4.  Effect of N and K application on P and K contents of basilTreatment  Main crop First Second Second(kg ha-1 year-1) ratoon ratoon cropP (%) K (%) P (%) K (%) P (%) K (%) P ( %) K (%)N level*0 0.37 2.06 0.43 1.89 0.37 1.42 3.94 1.73100 0.26 1.82 0.33 1.35 0.29 1.08 3.12 1.35200 0.27 1.89 0.28 1.33 0.30 1.16 3.13 1.46SE±m 0.03 0.20 0.03 0.12 0.03 0.09 0.04 0.10CD (P=0.05) 0.07 NS 0.07 0.25 0.07 0.19 0.07 0.21K2O level*0 0.30 1.82 0.35 1.38 0.31 1.08 0.40 1.1040 0.28 1.90 0.34 1.46 0.28 1.05 0.38 1.6480 0.31 2.04 0.35 1.73 0.37 1.53 0.35 1.79SE±m 0.03 0.20 0.03 0.12 0.03 0.09 0.04 0.10CD (P=0.05) NS NS NS 0.25 0.07 0.19 NS 0.21*Only N at half the above rates was applied to ratoons; NS=Not significant; Interaction effects were not significant.Nitrogen and potassium nutrition of basil104Rao et al.N level* K2O Main crop First ratoon                      Second ratoon Second croplevel*N P K N P K N P K N P Kuptake uptake uptake uptake uptake uptake uptake uptake uptake uptake uptake uptake0 0 10.89 2.83 15.69 3.06 3.30 13.19 6.77 2.46 8.19 13.66 4.59 14.0140 10.85 2.93 15.30 10.81 4.26 19.32 9.60 2.29 9.38 8.40 3.46 12.8580 12.41 3.08 18.51 8.70 3.23 16.76 7.40 2.55 10.82 7.74 3.12 14.57100 0 43.70 7.10 37.40 11.40 4.58 14.39 7.54 1.57 5.10 20.27 4.65 10.2340 46.44 8.24 49.59 28.75 6.24 26.93 9.11 1.81 6.40 16.47 3.38 15.2080 48.95 9.15 67.09 26.51 6.05 31.31 10.62 2.85 11.82 26.80 5.60 30.00200 0 54.21 6.52 48.39 32.73 5.68 25.21 9.95 1.80 6.65 19.77 4.49 12.3240 71.39 7.98 57.64 29.21 5.33 23.82 11.17 1.92 6.97 26.67 5.00 24.9380 54.62 7.25 46.93 33.98 6.06 31.43 15.73 4.01 16.79 23.54 5.00 26.42SE±m N 4.91 0.73 5.72 2.72 0.64 3.22 1.48 0.33 1.51 1.98 0.5 2.40SE±m K 4.91 0.73 5.72 2.72 0.64 3.22 1.48 0.33 1.51 1.98 0.65 2.40SE±m N x K 8.51 1.26 9.91 4.71 1.10 5.57 2.57 0.57 2.62 3.43 1.13 4.15CD (P=0.05)N 10.08 1.49 11.74 5.58 1.30 6.60 3.04 NS NS 4.07 NS 4.92CD (P=0.05)K NS NS NS NS NS 6.60 NS 0.68 3.10 NS NS 4.92CD (P=0.05)N x K 17.48 NS NS 9.66 NS NS NS NS NS 7.04 NS 8.51Table 5. Effect of N and K application (kg ha-1 year-1) on uptake of N and K (kg ha-1)  by basil*Only N at half the above rates was applied to ratoons; NS=Not significant105the K2O content in the soil showed significantdifferences due to N and K interaction.Application of K2O to basil at 80 kg ha-1resulted in higher level (100.1 kg ha-1) of K2Oin soil.  When no N was applied, applicationof 40 kg K2O ha-1 was not sufficient and soilexchangeable K2O was brought down to  69.3kg ha-1.Available phosphorus in soilAvailable P in soil increased after cultivationof basil (data not presented).  None of thetreatments had any significant effect on theP content in soil either after the first orsecond crop of basil.  This might indicate thatthe application of 40 kg P2O5 ha-1 as a commondose was adequate.The study indicated that optimum applicationof N and K fertilizers augmented essential oilyield of basil. N application also  tended toimprove methyl chavicol content in oil. SinceK depletion took place with continuouscropping of French basil as indicated by soiland plant data, proper combination of N andK is important for sustained production ofthe crop in this region.Acknowledgements The authors thank Dr. S P S Khanuja,Director, Central Institute of Medicinal andAromatic Plants, Lucknow, and Council ofScientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi,for facilities.ReferencesCochran W G & Cox G M 1957 ExperimentalDesigns, 2nd  Edition. John Wiley andSons, New York.Dhar A K 2002 Sweet basil Ocimum basilicum-areview. J.  Med.  Aromatic Plant Sci. 24:738–755.Gulati B C, Duhan S P S & Garg S N 1978  Effectof nitrogen on the yield of herb, oil andquality of essential oil of Ocimum basilicum(methyl cinnamate type). Indian Per-fumer 22: 53–54.Kahn M M A, Azam Z M & Samiullah 1999Changes in the essential oil constituentsof fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) as influ-enced by soil and foliar levels of N andP. Canadian J. Plant Sci. 587–591.Puttanna K 2000 Studies on the use of nitrifica-tion inhibitors for the production of cit-ronella oil. PhD Thesis. Bangalore Uni-versity, Bangalore.Puttanna K, Nanje Gowda N M & Rao E V S P2001 Effects of applications of N fertil-izers and nitrification inhibitors on drymatter and essential oil yields of Javacitronella (Cymbopogon winterianusJowitt). J.  Agric.  Sci. (UK)  136:  427–431.Rao E V S P 1992 Fertiliser management inmedicinal and aromatic crops. In:Tandon H L S (Ed.) Fertiliser use in NonTraditional Crops (pp. 73-93). FertilizerDevelopment and Consultation Organi-zation, New Delhi.Rao E V S P, Puttanna K & Rao R S G 2000aProspect of commercial medicultureand recent advances in agrotech-nologies of aromatic plants in SouthIndia.  J.  Med.  Aromatic Plant Sci. 22:207–213.Rao E V S P, Puttanna K & Ramesh S 2000b Effectof Nitrogen and harvest stage on theyield and oil quality of Tagetes minuta L.in tropical India. J. Herbs Spices Med.Plants 7: 19–24.Nitrogen and potassium nutrition of basil

Nitrogen and potassium nutrition of French basil (Ocimum basilicum Linn.)

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Nitrogen and potassium nutrition of French basil (Ocimum basilicum Linn.)

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