Organic substrates as an alternatively for the production of pepper basil (Ocimum Selloi Benth)

Abstract

Pepper basil (Ocimum selloi Benth) has been used in Mexico for its medicinal properties and also as a condiment. Moreover, the use of vermicompost is an alternative in organic production of medicinal plants, therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of vermicompost on the production of pepper basil. As treatments 4 substrates were used: 1) coffee vermicompost (based on pulp from the wet benefit) plus coffee husk 4:1; 2) coffee vermicompost plus dirt 1:1; 3) pure coffee vermicompost; and 4) dirt. In each treatment 5 plants were used as experimental units. The containers could handle 2l. The variables evaluated were: plant height, number of leaves, chlorophyll content, number of inflorescences, and number of buds, leaf dry weight, leaf area density, leaf nutrient status and extraction of N, P and K. The results showed that the best moisture retention (23%) on the dirt favored a higher height in the first week after transplantation; however, at the end of flowering, the treatment vermicompost with dirt 1:1 significantly increased the leaf area (36 cm2), the number of leaves (24 per plant), leaf dry weight (97 mg) and extraction of nitrogen (2 mg per leaf) compared with the substrate dirt, but similar to the substrate vermicompost coffee husk 4:1. Although, there were no signif icant differences between the treatments with vermicompost.