Effect of Nitrogen, Harvesting Stage and Interval on Growth, Yield and Quality of Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum L.)
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Date
2017-08
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University of Agricultural Science, Dharwad
Abstract
An investigation on the effect of nitrogen, harvesting stage and interval on growth, yield and quality of tulsi was carried out during kharif 2016-17 at the Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Unit, Saidapur Farm, Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, UAS, Dharwad. The experiment was laid out in factorial RCBD with three levels of nitrogen viz., 75 kg (N1), 100 kg (N2) and 125 kg (N3) per hectare, two harvestings at 75 (H1) and 90 (H2) days after transplanting with two harvesting intervals of 60 (I1) and 75 days (I2) after first harvest.
Significant differences were observed among different doses of nitrogen, harvesting stage and interval on growth and yield parameters. Among the nitrogen levels, 125 kg per hectare recorded higher fresh herbage (18.14 and 11.89 t/ha) and dry herbage (6.13 and 4.02 t/ha) yield per hectare at first and second harvest, respectively and also recorded the maximum essential oil yield of 66.77 and 43.68 kg per hectare at first and second harvest, respectively. Harvesting stage had a significant influence on fresh and dry herbage yield of 19.21 and 6.49 tons per hectare, respectively in the first harvest, while 12.41 and 4.20 tons per hectare fresh and dry herbage yield, respectively was recorded in the second harvest. The essential oil yield of 69.52 and 45.97 kg per hectare was obtained at first and second harvest, respectively with the plants harvested at 90 days after transplanting. With regard to harvesting interval, an interval of 75 days after first harvest recorded maximum fresh and dry herbage yield per hectare (12.30 and 4.17 t/ha) and also recorded maximum essential oil yield of 44.85 kg per hectare. Oil content and the oil quality (% eugenol) ranged from 0.31 – 0.38 per cent and 72.09 – 76.44 per cent, respectively. The interaction effect of harvesting stage and interval on essential oil yield was significant.
For the higher production of tulsi, application of nitrogen at the rate of 125 kg per hectare and harvesting at 90 days after transplanting with subsequent harvesting at an interval of 75 days helps in realizing the higher yield.