Yield Performance of Different Basil (Ocimum Basilicum L.) Varieties

Abstract

Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) is one of the most widely cultivated medicinal and aromatic plants, valued for both fresh consumption and dried herb production. The objective of this study was to compare the yield performance of four basil cultivars ('Genovese', 'Red Rubin', 'Lemon-scented', and 'Cinnamon') under irrigated field conditions in 2025. The experiment was conducted at the Demonstration Garden of the University of Nyíregyháza, Hungary. Seedlings were transplanted in June and cultivated under drip irrigation without foliar fertilization. Three harvests were carried out during the growing season, and both fresh and dry herb yields were determined. Significant differences were observed among the cultivars. 'Cinnamon' basil achieved the highest dry herb yield per plant (61.49 g plant⁻¹) and the greatest estimated dry yield (8,198 kg ha⁻¹), despite being grown on a smaller experimental area due to poor germination. 'Genovese' also exhibited high productivity, producing an estimated dry yield of 4,672 kg ha⁻¹. In contrast, 'Red Rubin' consistently produced the lowest fresh and dry herb yields. All cultivars showed substantial increases in biomass production between successive harvests, and favourable climatic conditions allowed a successful third harvest, resulting in markedly higher cumulative yields than typically reported for two-harvest production systems. The results demonstrate considerable differences in yield potential among basil cultivars and indicate that 'Cinnamon' and 'Lemon-scented' basil are particularly suitable for dried herb production under irrigated field conditions, while 'Genovese' represents a reliable high-yielding cultivar for commercial cultivation.