Presentation Outlinesweat basil

• Botanical name

• Botanical description

• Medicinal uses

• Production technology

Soil and Climate Sowing date Irrigation Fertilizers Insect pest and diseases etc.

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Nomenclature

• Scientific name: Ocimum basilicum• Common names: Basil or sweet basil • Family: lamiaceae

• The name basil is derived from greek word, basileus which means “king”, because of the royal fragrance of this herb:

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Origin of Basil

• Basil is widespread in Africa Asia and USA• First cultivated in India.• More than 50 species are present.• Differ in growth habit physiological

appearance and aromatic composition.

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Botanical description

• Stem• Basil is an erect herbaceous annual plant.• Sometimes grown as a short-lived perennial in

some areas.• It grows into a bushy shape up to about 50 cm

tall and some varieties may even grow taller.

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Botanical description

• Leaves• The leaves are broad.• Oval shaped.• And 5 to 8 cm long.• Leaves are yellowish and • Bright green.

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Botanical description

• Flowers• Small white to purple flowers appear in

summer and are arranged in whorls on the ends of branches.

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Botanical description

• Seed • The flowers produce seeds, which are oblong,

ranging from brown to black in color.• The seeds self-sow readily and are easy to

germinate.

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Production Technology

• Seedbed preparation:• 2-3 cultivation for direct sowing.

• 1 planking.

• Apply suitable farming operation.

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Climate

• Temperature:• Best cultivated in subtropical areas.• Optimum temperature for germination is 20 o

C.• Rainfall:• 700 mm rainfall is the minimum for dryland

cultivation.

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Soil

• Basil required well drained and fertile soil.

• High organic matter content.

• pH ranges from 4-6.

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Cultivation practices

• Propagation:• Seed can be sown in trays.• Basil may be cultivated as field crop or in a

green house.• Transplanted in field after 4-6 weeks.• When plant height is 15 cm.• Basil can also propagated by cuttings.

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Planting

• Spacing:• Row- Row space=50-100 cm.• Plant- plant space=15-30.• Planting depth:• Seeds are planted only 3-6 mm deep.• Plant population:• Population should be 60000-90000 plants per

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Sowing Time

• Basil can be direct seeded or transplanted in August- October.

• Planted nursery at early date.

• Protect it from cold and frost season.

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Fertilizer:

• Depend upon soil type.• Basil respond well at moderately use of

fertilizer.

• N:P:K=100:50:20 kg per hectare.

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Irrigation:

• Requires water throughout the growing season.

• Drip irrigation is the best option.• Weeds control:• Weeds control is critical because the

competition with weeds decrease the quality of leaves.

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Weeds control

• Do not allow the weeds to form seed.• Shade out weeds by plant canopy.• Use manual or mechanical control.

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Pests and diseases

• Aphids.

• Beetles.

• Leafminers.

• Grasshopper.

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Harvesting

• For essential oil:• It is harvesting one time at full harvesting

stage.• For leaves:• Up to 4 cuttings are possible.• Leaves are harvested when needed.• Leaves are cut 10-15 cm above the ground to

allow regrowth.

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Storing

• Essential oil is stored in air tight plastic bag.• Fresh basil stored on 8-10 o C temperature.• Fresh basil stored for 7-10 days at

recommended temperature.• Dried leaves are stored in dark air tight

container.

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