Impact of Bio-Fertilizers and Bio-Fertilizers with Reduced Rates of Chemical Fertilization on Growth, Yield, Antioxidant Activity, Essential Oil Composition of Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) Plant

The study evaluated the impacts of Mycorrhiza (Bio1), Azotobacter (Bio2), and Trichoderma (Bio3) on the grown, fresh-dry herb yield, biological activity, essential oil productivity, and quality of basil. A reduced application of chemical fertilizer plus Trichoderma, Azotobacter, Mycorrhiza, inoculant alone bio-fertilizers, combined with the bio-organic fertilizers, with using the 100% rate of the conventional chemical fertilizer and control. The results showed that the application with the inoculant alone or combined with the bio-organic fertilizers increased the herb yield and biological activities. The maximum content of methyl chavicol, geranial and citral was obtained fertilized with Bio1 + Bio2 + Bio3, 50% IO + Bio3, 50% IO + Bio2. Especially, application of Bio1 + Bio2 fertilizer has great potential for improving antioxidant activity, total phenolic and flavonoid contents. Thus, the results suggest that the application of bio-fertilizers could be employed in combination with the appropriate rates of chemical fertilizers to get maximum benefits regarding herb yield, biological activity and essential oil component.