Vol. 12, Issue 3 (2023)

Author(s):
Rahul Yadav, Deepak Kumar Meena, Rakesh Dawar, Sunita T Pandey and Tejveer Singh

Abstract:
Studies were conducted during kharif season of 2019 at Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar to study the influence of fermented liquid manures (Jeevamrit and Kunapajala), Farmyard manure (FYM) and inorganic fertilizers on fresh herbage yield, essential oil content and total oil yield of sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum) and their effect on soil health. Eight treatments with three replications were adopted in a randomized block design to investigate the effect of fermented liquid manures (500 L ha^-1, 1000 L ha^-1 and 500 L+FYM @ 7.5 t ha^-1 ha^-1), recommended dose of NPK (120:60:40 kg ha^-1), and recommended FYM (15 t ha^-1) on fresh herbage and oil yield of sweet basil. Results revealed that RDF (N120:P60:K40) gave significantly higher fresh herbage yield (271.86 q ha-1) and oil yield (143.33 kg ha^-1) and was statistically at par with Jeevamrit @ 500 L ha^-1+FYM @ 7.5 t ha^-1 (256.07 q ha^-1 and 138.54 kg ha^-1 respectively). Organic liquid manures (Jeevamrit and Kunapajala) are rich bio-formulation which contains consortia of beneficial microbes. The highest total microbial population (34.01×104 CFU/g) was obtained with Jeevamrit @ 500 L ha^-1+FYM @ 7.5 t ha^-1 which was followed by FYM @ 15 t ha^-1 (30.07×104 CFU/g) in soil after harvest. The essential oil content was non significantly affected due to various treatments however Jeevamrit @ 500 L ha^-1+FYM @ 7.5 t ha^-1 recorded numerically higher oil content. Jeevamrit combined with FYM (7.5 t ha^-1) was superior to FYM (15 t ha^-1) alone with respect to fresh herbage and oil yield.