The effect of inorganic fertilizer treatment on the mineral and vitamin content of the leaves of Ocimum gratissimum (l)

Abstract

The effect of inorganic fertilizer treatment on the mineral and vitamin contents of the leaves of

O. gratissimum  (L) was investigated. Cultivated O. gratissimum  in plastic planting buckets were applied with NPK (15:15:15) fertilizer at 100 kg/ha, 200 kg/ha, 300 kg/ha, 400 kg/ha and 500 kg/ha treatment levels determined using the furrow slice methods, two months after seed germination. Only one application was carried out. The leaves of the plants were harvested for analysis one month after treatment. Fertilizer treatment caused significant increase (P < 0.05) in the potassium, sodium, magnesium, phosphorous and nitrogen contents of the leaves of O. gratissimum . However, fertilizer treatment led to significant reduction (P < 0.05) in the calcium content of the leaves of O. gratissimum.  Although fertilizer treatment generally caused increased concentration of ascorbic acid, riboflavin, niacin and thiamine, such increases were not significant. Generally, the concentration of minerals and vitamins tended to increase as the level of treatment increased.