Effect Of Foliar Application Of Npk Nano-Fertilizer On Some Agronomic Traits And Essential Oil Of Sweet Basil (Ocimum Basilicum L.) Grown Under The Shade-Net House Conditions

Abstract

Smart fertilizers, such as nano-fertilizers, can reduce environmental pollution and cultivation expenses in the medicinal and aromatic plant industry. The purpose of this research was to see how NPK nano-fertilizer affected the morpho-physiological characteristics and essential oil content of sweet basil. The plants were grown in pots under the shade net house conditions, and treated with six different NPK nano-fertilizers (0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, and 2.5 g/L). As a foliar treatment, the NPK nano-fertilizer was sprayed four times in a 30-day interval. The pot experiment, which was set up in a completely randomized design with three replications, was subjected to regression analysis. According to the findings, applying different rates of NPK nano-fertilizer had a significant influence on vegetative parameters and essential oil content. The usage of smart fertilizers was found to have a linear relationship with plant height, essential oil %, and essential oil production. Plants treated with 1.5 g/L smart fertilizer had the highest leaves number per plant, branches number per plant, and herb dry weight. Using a smart fertilizer, according to this research, can reduce pollution while also improving essential oil output.