Biological value and chemical components of essential oils of sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) grown with organic fertilization sources.

BACKGROUND

Environmental safety of agricultural utilization of livestock and poultry manures from intensive farming is attracting great attention and effective as a good source of N for sustainable crop production. The present study was performed to determine the effects of organic poultry manure applications on biological value and essential oil content of sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.). In this context, the different doses of chicken, kıbele (fermented chicken manure) and turkey manure (750, 1000, 1250, 1500 kg da-1 ) with a control (no manure) were applied with sowing.

RESULTS

The essential oils consisted of p-Allyl-Anisole as the most abundant component (5.65-17.90%), followed by nerol (6.69-16.11%), linalool (5.10-10.81%) and z-citral (5.23-10.73%). The contents of most of the chemical constituents varied significantly (p<0.05) with organic poultry manure applications. The highest concentration for essential oils components was found in chicken manure application. Both the antioxidant activity and total phenolic amounts of the basil extracts varied significantly, as organic poultry manure applications changed. The highest antioxidant activity and total phenolic amounts were obtained in the treatments of 1000, 1250 kg da-1 doses of chicken which were significantly different from other treatments and the control treatment. Evaluation of antimicrobial activity of the essential oils against bacterial strains: Escherichia coli ATCC 35218, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 43300 and Candida albicans ATCC 10231 was assessed by disc diffusion method and measurement of determination of minimum inhibitory concentration. The results of antimicrobial assays indicated that all the tested microorganisms were affected. The highest antibacterial activity against all tested microbial species was observed in 1250 kg da-1 chicken manure applications.

CONCLUSIONS

Among the organic poultry fertilization, chicken fertilization was of particular interest. Especially, 1000-1250 kg da-1 chicken doses had the highest antibacterial as well as antioxidant activity, total phenolics, flavonoid and essential oil component. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.