Vol. 10, Issue 7 (2021)

Author(s):
M Lakshmi Madhuri, S Surya Kumari, DV Swami, K Giridhar, DR Salomi Suneetha and K Uma Krishna

Abstract:
The present investigation entitled “Effect of nutrition, elicitation, extraction intervals on essential oil production and value addition in holy basil (Ocimum sanctum L.)” was carried out at College of Horticulture, Venkataramannagudem, Dr. YSR Horticultural University, West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh during Kharif 2018-19 to 2019-20. The study was conducted to ascertain the best nutrient and elicitor levels, pre-processing interval for maximum oil recovery and optimization of ocimum based herbal RTS. The study considered three graded levels of nitrogen (Nitrogen 100%, 75% and 50%) with three levels of micronutrients (copper @ 5g, zinc @ 5g, copper and zinc @ 5g each), three elicitor levels (Salicylic acid 50 ppm, 100 ppm and 150 ppm), three pre-processing intervals (immediately after harvest, 24 hrs. and 48 hrs.) and eight blends of herbal RTS (10:5:40:45, 15:5:35:45, 20:5:30:45, 25:5:25:45, 5:10:40:45 5:15:35:45, 5:20:30:45 and 5:25:25:45) consists of ocimum, ginger, lemon and sugar. The study revealed that, quantitative parameters like plant height, number of branches per plant, fresh herb yield per plant, dry herb yield per plant and oil yield were significant with graded levels of nitrogen, micronutrients and salicylic acid at both the cuts.