Our objective was to determine the optimal irradiance, total N concentration, and NO3--N:NH4+-N ratio for greatest edible biomass production of three cultivars of basil (Basilicum ocimum L.) in a controlled-environment production system. Preliminary experiments showed basil required a dark period, but the duration of the dark period was not resolved. Based on our results, canopy-level irradiance should not exceed 500 mumol/m2/s to conserve energy while enabling the greatest edible biomass production of basil in a controlled-environment production system. Optimal edible biomass production occurred at 100 to 250 mg N/L at a ratio of 50:50 nitrate-N : ammonium-N. All plants died in the 100% ammonium-N treatment. Regression models that allow analysis for optimum conditions suggest a nitrate-N : ammonium-N ratio of 50:50 to 75:25 yielded the greatest biomass of basil.
","abstract_html":"<p>Our objective was to determine the optimal irradiance, total N concentration, and NO3--N:NH4+-N ratio for greatest edible biomass production of three cultivars of basil (Basilicum ocimum L.) in a controlled-environment production system. Preliminary experiments showed basil required a dark period, but the duration of the dark period was not resolved. Based on our results, canopy-level irradiance should not exceed 500 mumol/m2/s to conserve energy while enabling the greatest edible biomass production of basil in a controlled-environment production system. Optimal edible biomass production occurred at 100 to 250 mg N/L at a ratio of 50:50 nitrate-N : ammonium-N. All plants died in the 100% ammonium-N treatment. Regression models that allow analysis for optimum conditions suggest a nitrate-N : ammonium-N ratio of 50:50 to 75:25 yielded the greatest biomass of basil.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Beaman, Angela"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Science","degree_level":"thesis","degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":"Department of Horticulture","school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":["Richard J. Gladon","Gail R. Nonnecke","Loren C. Stephens"],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2008,"date_issued":"2008-01-01","date_published":"2008-01-01","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:37:38Z","subjects":[],"languages":["en"],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.doi","label":"DOI","values":["https://doi.org/10.31274/rtd-180813-16696"],"render_values":[{"text":"https://doi.org/10.31274/rtd-180813-16696","href":"https://doi.org/10.31274/rtd-180813-16696","code":true}]},{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["archive/lib.dr.iastate.edu/rtd/15474/"],"render_values":[{"text":"archive/lib.dr.iastate.edu/rtd/15474/","href":null,"code":true}]}]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://dr.lib.iastate.edu/handle/20.500.12876/69110","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.advisor","label":"Advisor","values":["Richard J. Gladon","Gail R. Nonnecke","Loren C. Stephens"]},{"key":"dc:contributor.department","label":"Department","values":["Department of Horticulture"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Beaman, Angela"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date","label":"Dc Date","values":["2018-08-22T18:46:20.000"]},{"key":"dc:date.accessioned","label":"Dc Date Accessioned","values":["2020-06-30T07:44:47Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2020-06-30T07:44:47Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2008-01-01"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language.iso","label":"Language (ISO)","values":["en"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["archive/lib.dr.iastate.edu/rtd/15474/"]},{"key":"dc:identifier.doi","label":"DOI","values":["https://doi.org/10.31274/rtd-180813-16696"]},{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["https://dr.lib.iastate.edu/handle/20.500.12876/69110"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Our objective was to determine the optimal irradiance, total N concentration, and NO3--N:NH4+-N ratio for greatest edible biomass production of three cultivars of basil (Basilicum ocimum L.) in a controlled-environment production system. Preliminary experiments showed basil required a dark period, but the duration of the dark period was not resolved. Based on our results, canopy-level irradiance should not exceed 500 mumol/m2/s to conserve energy while enabling the greatest edible biomass production of basil in a controlled-environment production system. Optimal edible biomass production occurred at 100 to 250 mg N/L at a ratio of 50:50 nitrate-N : ammonium-N. All plants died in the 100% ammonium-N treatment. Regression models that allow analysis for optimum conditions suggest a nitrate-N : ammonium-N ratio of 50:50 to 75:25 yielded the greatest biomass of basil.
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