Development of a basil seedling production model: A choice of containers

Abstract

Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) is an ornamental, medicinal, aromatic plant and it is also used as a spice. Its manifold use has greatly contributed to its significance in the Mediterranean region. Until now the production of basil seedlings in warm beds has been meeting the needs with regard to the herb. However, the ever-increasing interest for the plant has initiated the need to improve the technology of seedling production. The intensive container seedling production has a number of advantages and is used in both vegetable and flower production. The speedling system, i.e. the system of polystyrene containers with pots of different volumes for substrate and seed sowing is known to be the most rational and practical container production system. The objective of the study was to develop a model for basil seedling production under controlled conditions using containers of various sizes. Preliminary investigations were carried out in 2005. The production of basil seedling was analyzed with respect to its growing under field conditions and consumption as a fresh spice. The seedlings were grown in containers of seven different sizes. The most favorable basil seedling quality for the field production was obtained in the largest sized containers cells (76 cm3). The highest basil fresh weight yield per m2 was obtained in 14-cm3 cell containers.

U proizvodnji lekovitih, a naročito aromatično-začinskih, biljnih sirovina bosiljak zauzima značajno mesto. Zato se unapređenju tehnologije gajenja ove vrste, kod nas, daje sve veći značaj. Predmet ovog rada je praćenje uticaja primene različitih kontejnera na kvalitet rasada bosiljka u odnosu na njegovu dalju primenu. Rasad bosiljka je proizveden u sedam različitih kontejnera a od pokazatelja kvaliteta rasada praćeni su: visina biljke, broj listova, masa sveže, masa suve biljke i masa svežeg korena. Rezultati istraživanja su statistički obrađeni i izvršeno je rangiranje kontejnera. Za proizvodnju rasada bosiljka najbolji rezultati su postignuti uzgojem u kontejnerima sa zapreminom ćelija od 76 cm3. Dok za proizvodnju bosiljka kao svežeg začina najbolji rezultati su postignuti uzgojem u kontejnerima zapremine ćelije od 14 cm3.