Field Experiments were carried out at the Experimental Farm of Horticulture Dep, Fac. Of Agric., Benha University, Egypt, in the two successive seasons of 2014-2015 and 2015-2016. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of NPK chemical fertilization and combined organic chicken manure with yeast extract on growth, and oil productivity of basil (Ocimum basilicum, L.) cv. Genovese plant. In general, all applied treatments positively increased all growth parameters as plant height, number of branches, fresh and dry weights, photosynthetic pigments (i.e. chlorophyll a, b, and carotenoids), minerals (i.e. N, P, K), and total carbohydrates, especially the combined treatment between chicken manure 20 m3/ fed. with yeast extract 100 M/ L in the two cuts and in the two seasons. Also, full dose of NPK ranked the next in this concern, additionally, the combined treatment between chicken manure20 m3/ fed. with yeast extract 50 M/ L produced the third results in two cuts in both seasons. Also, essential oil percentage in leaves gave the maximum values when plants treated with the combined treatment between chicken manure20 m3/ fed. with yeast extract 100 M/ L as compared with untreated ones, while the full dose of NPK ranked the second in this concern. The volatile oil composition of basil produced ten identified components, the main component was the linalool, that ranged from (53.91 to 62.66 %) followed by 1.8 cineol (11.02 to 12.88), β-caryophyllene (7.07 to 11.64%), camphor (3.61 to 5.66%) and geraniol (1.74 to 2.41%). The results proved the possibility to substitute chemical fertilizer with chicken manure20 m3/ fed. with yeast extract 100 M/ L to decrease the world-wide dependence on hazardous chemical fertilizers which deteriorate the agro-ecosystems. |
