Effect of biostimulants on herbage yield and biotic stress management of sacred basil (Ocimum sanctum L.)

The experiment was conducted during 2021-22 & 2022-23 to study the effect of biostimulants on herbage yield and biotic stress management of sacred basil (Ocimum sanctum L.). The results revealed that the treatment T6 - CIM- Ayu and Seaweed extract @ 10% (V1B6) recorded significantly less number of days taken for initiation of flowering (38.33, 36.67 and 37.50), days taken for 50% flowering (63.33, 65.67 and 64.50) and days taken for harvesting (90.33, 89.00 and 89.67) during the years 2021, 2022 and pooled, respectively. The treatment T6 - CIM- Ayu and Seaweed extract @ 10% (V1B6) recorded significantly highest yield parameters like fresh herbage yield per plant (g/plant ) (519.29, 529.57 and 524.43), fresh herbage yield per plot (Kg/plot) (19.47, 19.86 and 19.67), fresh herbage yield per hectare (t/ha) (32.46, 33.10 and 32.78), dry herbage yield per plant (g/plant ) (249.42, 273.68 and 261.55), dry herbage yield per plot (Kg/plot) (9.35, 10.26 and 9.81), dry herbage yield per hectare (t/ha) (15.59, 17.11 and 16.35). With respect to pest and disease severity, there was no significant difference among different treatments in incidence of Spodoptera exigua. Among the treatments disease severity was, however, observed lowest (16.34, 16.74 and 16.54) in the treatment T6 - CIM- Ayu and Seaweed extract @ 10% (V1B6) during the years 2021, 2022 and pooled, respectively.