Effect of row spacing and organic weed management practices on growth and yield of sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum) in northern western Himalayan region

Research on sweet basil was conducted in a field experiment during the kharif season of 2019 at Faculty of Agriculture, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Wadura, Sopore to study the effect of spacing and organic weed management on growth and development of sweet basil under temperate conditions of Kashmir. Results revealed that among weed management practices walnut hull aqueous solution spray (1:10) at the time of planting + hand weeding 20- 25 DAT + walnut hull aqueous solution sprays just after hand weeding / hoeing (W6) have recorded significantly higher plant height, number of functional leaves, leaf area index, number of primary and secondary branches, dry matter accumulation, spike length, number of spikes plant-1, number of spikelets spike-1, number of spikelets plant-1,number of seeds spike-1,number of seeds plant-1,seed weight plant-1,test weight, fresh herbage yield, dry herbage yield per hectare, seed yield, harvest index. Spacing of 30cm × 30cm (S30) recorded significantly higher pant height as compared to other spacing however spacing of 40cm × 30cm (S40) spacing recorded significantly higher no. of functional leaves, LAI, dry matter accumulation and fresh herbage yield. Spacing of 50cm × 30cm (S50) recorded significantly higher no. of primary and secondary branches spike length, number of spikes plant-1, number of spikelets spike-1, number of spikelets plant-1,number of seeds spike-1,number of seeds plant-1,seed weight plant-1 and test weight.