Biomass production and physiological parameters of intercropped basil-forage turnip as affected by biochar and vermicompost

Abstract

Abstract Intercropping systems as an eco-friendly strategy, meliorates the quality of the agro-ecosystem. On the other hand, usage of soil amendments was environmental friendly technology to improve sustainability of soil resources and production plants. This two-year (2018–2019) study target to distinguish the quality and quantity of sweet basil in intercropping system with forage turnip with usage of vermicompost and biochar as a soil amendments. The treatments in the main plots were: A1: 90% forage turnip + 10% basil; A2: 80% forage turnip + 20% basil; A3: 70% forage turnip + 30% basil, in main plots; also two vermicompost levels (15 ton ha− 1, 18.5 ton ha− 1) and two biochar levels (control, 5 ton ha− 1) were placed in subplots. Thus, intercropping of basil and forage turnip at level of 70% forage turnip + 30% basil with biochar and vermicompost at 18.5 ton ha− 1 was the best performance compared to another treatments. That treatment promoted chlorophyll (a + b) 65.32%, carotenoid 67.47%, soluble sugars 77.35%, relative water content 33.13%, dry matter yield 62.54%, essential oil 63.15%, essential oil yield 191.76% and reduced membrane stability index 150.95%, compared to 90% forage turnip + 10% basil and vermicompost at 15 ton ha− 1 (without biochar). Thus, it can be suggested to farmers as an ecological friendly methods to improve basil yield and yield compounds.