Monday, 6 October 2008

George R. Brown Convention Center, Exhibit Hall E

Valtcho D. Zheljazkov, North Mississippi Res & Ext Center, Mississippi State, 5421 Highway 145 S, Verona, MS 38879, Charles Cantrell, Natural Products Utilization Research Unit, USDA-ARS, P.O. Box 8048, University, MS 38877, M. Wayne Ebelhar, Mississippi State University, Delta Research & Extension Center, Po Box 197, Stoneville, MS 38776, Dennis Rowe, Experimental Statistics, Mississippi State University, 149 Dorman Hall, Mississippi State, MS 39762 and Christine Coker, Coastal Research and Extension Center, Mississippi State University, 1815 Popps Ferry Rd.,, Biloxi, MS 39532

This study evaluated the effect of N (0, 60, 120, and 180 kg N ha^-1) and S (0, 20, 40, and 80 kg S ha^-1) rates on biomass production, oil content, and oil composition for sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L. ‘German’) at three locations in Mississippi (Stoneville, Poplarville, and Verona). Location, N rate, and their interaction were significant on basil dry herbage yields. The herbage yield means were 4,967 kg×ha^-1, 2,907 kg×ha^-1, and 2,122 kg×ha^-1for Poplarville, Verona, and Stoneville, respectively. Oil content was significantly affected by location with means of 0.69%, 0.80%, and 0.64% for Stoneville, Poplarville, and Verona, respectively. Location, N, and S had significant effects on oil yields, with means of 14.7, 38.7, and 18.5 kg×ha^-1, for Stoneville, Poplarville, and Verona, respectively. Based on quadratic regression analysis, essential oil yields were maximized at N application rates of approximately 50 to 60 kg N ha^-1, whereas maximum response to S fertilization appeared to be beyond 80 kg S ha^-1 based on a linear response. Location and N application rates had significant effect on the yields of the major basil oil constituents (–)-linalool, eugenol, (–)-bornyl acetate, and eucalyptol, whereas S had a significant effect on eucalyptol yield only. Eucalyptol concentration was positively correlated to the concentration of (–)-bornyl acetate. This is the first study to quantify (in real concentration) the response of the major sweet basil oil constituents (–)-linalool, eugenol, (–)-bornyl acetate, and eucalyptol as a function of N and S application rates. Also, it is the first study to demonstrate a strong response of basil oil yield to S. The results from this study demonstrated that N and S applications can be used as management tools with respect to sweet basil production, oil content, and oil composition.

See more of: Advances in International Agronomy (includes Graduate Student Competition) (Posters)
See more of: A06 International Agronomy

2008 Joint Annual Meeting (5-9 Oct. 2008): N and S Effects on Sweet Basil Yields, Oil Content, and Composition.

539-30 N and S Effects on Sweet Basil Yields, Oil Content, and Composition.