Effects of Long-term Application of Vermicompost and Chemical Fertilizers on Morphological Parameters and Some Nutrient Concentrations in Basil

This experiment was performed to evaluate the effects of different level of vermicompost alone or plus chemical fertilizer on morphological parameters and some nutrient concentration in basil during 2005-2009. Experiment was arranged in split plot based on randomized complete block design. Treatments were fertilizers at six levels including control, recommended chemical fertilizer or CF (urea, potassium sulphate and triple superphosphateby 70, 60 and 50 kg.ha-1, respectively), 20 and 40 ton.ha-1 of vermicompost either alone or plus half of CF and sub plots consisting of application period including: one, two, three and four years. Results showed that significant interactions were exist between two factors in terms of plant height, canopy diameter, dry matter yield and some macronutrient concentrations (N, P and K). Increasing in both vermicompost amount and application periods markedly improved mentioned parameters. Maximum canopy diameter, P and K concentrations were recorded when 40 ton-ha-1 vermicompost plus ½ CF applied for three successive years. Orthogonal comparison revealed that vermicompost increased leaf P and K concentrations more than chemical fertilizer alone. In contrast, chemical fertilizer was superior in terms of plant height. Simoltaneously application of vermicompost and chemical fertilizers in comparison with vermicompost alone increased all of characteristics except plants height and leaf N content.