Impact of Elicitors on Herbage Yield, Biotic Stress Management and Benefit Cost Ratio of Sacred Basil (Ocimum sanctum L.)

The experiment was conducted during 2021-22 & 2022-23 to study the influence of elicitors on herbage yield, biotic stress management and benefit cost ratio of sacred basil (Ocimum sanctum L.). The results revealed that the treatment T5 (V1E5) - CIM- Ayu + Salicylic acid @ 0.5 mM recorded significantly less number of days taken for initiation of flowering (43.67, 38.33 and 41.00), 50% flowering (65.00, 63.00 and 64.00) and harvesting (93.33, 86.67 and 90.00). It also recorded highest yield parameters like fresh herbage yield per plant (g/plant) (494.53, 493.08 and 493.81), per plot (Kg/plot) (18.55, 18.49 and 18.52), per hectare (t/ha) (30.91, 30.82 and 30.86), dry herbage yield per plant (g/plant) (188.33, 214.90 and 201.62), per plot (Kg/plot) (7.06, 8.10 and 7.56), per hectare (t/ha) (11.77, 13.43 and 12.60) during the years 2021, 2022 and pooled, respectively. The benefit-cost ratio (4.02, 4.73 and 4.38) was recorded highest in T5 (V1E5) followed by T12(V2E5) (3.46, 4.06 and 3.76) during both the years and pooled respectively. With respect to pest and disease severity, Alternaria was recorded lowest (9.66, 10.13 and 9.90) in T6 (V1E6) - CIM- Ayu + Salicylic acid @ 1.0 mM, and was at par with T13 (V2E6) (9.71, 10.18 and 9.94) and T5 (V1E5) (9.75, 10.21 and 9.98). However, no significant difference was observed among treatments in the incidence of Spodoptera exigua on sacred basil. The study concludes that foliar application of salicylic acid, particularly at 0.5 mM, is an effective and economically viable elicitor for enhancing yield, improving phenological efficiency, and managing biotic stress in sacred basil cultivation.