The effect of different irrigation water levels on yield and quality characteristics of purple basil (Ocimum basilicum L.)

A field study on purple basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) was carried out to determine the effect of different irrigation water levels in 2007 and 2008 in the research field of Ege University, Faculty of Agriculture, in Turkey. Four irrigation treatments were determined as the irrigation water being needed to raise root zone soil water to field capacity (I100: 100%, at field capacity) and a percentage of water applied to I100 treatment (I50: 50%, I75: 75% and I125: 125% of field capacity). The effect of different irrigation water levels on purple basil's plant height, green herb yield, drug herb yield, and drug leaf yield, the irrigation water use efficiency, essential oil ratio, and composition of essential oil were evaluated.