Vol. 11, Issue 12 (2022)

Basil is a fragrant edible herb with abundant minerals, micronutrients, and pharmacological activities. The effect of organic manures on the crop biomass, essential oil yield and composition, and antioxidant activity in Ocimum basilicum was studied under field conditions. The field study reveals that the combined use of farmyard manure (FYM), vermicompost (VC) and neem cake (NC) gives higher crop yield in basil. The experiment was laid out in Randomized block design (RBD) with 3 replications and 11 treatments. Data on fresh yield per plot, fresh yield per hectare, seed yield per hectare, essential oil ratio and essential oil yield were collected and analysed. The analysis of variance revealed that there were highly significant effect of organic manures for all parameters tested. The maximum fresh yield per plot (26.43 kg), fresh yield per hectare (132.15 q) and seed yield per hectare (630.00 kg) were obtained from the T10 treatment (Vermicompost 750 Kg/ ha +Farmyard Manure 3.75 t/ha +Neem cake 375 Kg/ha). While, the highest essential oil ratio (0.61%) and essential oil yield (38.28 Kg) were recorded with the T₆ treatment (Neem cake 1 t/ha). The parameters like composition of essential oil and antioxidant activity shows non significant effect due to different organic manures and combinations of organic manures.