Response of Basil (Ocimum basilicum) Growth and Yield to Planting Densities and Row Arrangements in Tomato-Basil Intercropping System

Abstract

Wondo Genet area, which is located in the Sidama zone of south Ethiopia, is characterized by a rapidly increasing human population and scarcity of arable land per household. There is a need for developing an efficient cropping system to use the limited land efficiently and to enhance food security. An experiment was, therefore, was conducted at Wondo Genet Agricultural Research Center under irrigated during the 2018 cropping season to examine the growth and yield of sweet basil under different planting densities and row arrangements in tomato-sweet basil Intercropping System. The experiment was conducted with two basil row arrangements (one tomato row alternating with one basil row (1T:1B) or with two basil rows (1T:2B)) and four basil population densities (66666, 50000, 33333 and 16666 plants.ha<sup>-1</sup>) factorial arrangement in RCBD with three replications each consisting of ten treatments. Results of the study indicated that the row arrangement by planting density interaction significantly influenced the yield of basil with the maximum dry herbal (341.49 kg.ha<sup>-1</sup>) and essential oil (22.86 kg.ha<sup>-1</sup>) yields were recorded at 100% basil population density with a 1T:2B row arrangements. The cropping system significantly influenced the essential oil content and essential oil yield of basil. The highest essential oil content (1.26%) and essential oil yield (21.83 kg.ha<sup>-1</sup>) of basil were obtained at sole planting compared to that of intercropping (0.96%) and (15.36 kg.ha<sup>-1</sup>) with tomato showing 23.81% and 29.64% reduction, respectively. Therefore, intercropping 100% basil population in tomato by 1T:2B row arrangements could be recommended for Wondo genet and similar agroecology area, based on its better compatibility and productivity.