Evaluation of growth and yield of organically-grown basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) in soilless culture

The effect of nutrient sources, organic manure and inorganic conventional nutrient solution in basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) production was evaluated in soilless culture. The experiment was designed to test two factors, cultivar (two local cultivars) and nutrient sources (inorganic nutrient solution, solid organic manure and organic nutrient solution) from February 2010 to July 2010 in an experimental greenhouse of Young Researchers Club of Islamic Azad University, Jahrom, Iran. Results showed that there was no significant difference between yields of cultivars. The highest yield was obtained in inorganic nutrient solution and the lowest one in solid organic manure. Comparison between inorganic nutrient sources and organic nutrient solution indicated that there was no remarkable difference among them. So, organic manure can be used in solution as a nutrient source for production of organic basil in soilless culture.