Growing ‘Genovese’ and ‘Valentino’ Basil in Pots Using Peat Substrate Combined with Phytoremediated Sediment: Effects on Yield and Nutraceutical Content

Climate change is causing a decline in the availability of crucial resources such as water and fertile soil, leading to detrimental impact on crop yields. Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.), an annual aromatic plant used worldwide for culinary, cosmetic, medicinal purposes, especially at risk due its high demand specific growing requirements typical Mediterranean climate. In Italy, basil essential part any herb garden also commonly found households potted plant. Nowadays, conventional practice pots with peat primary medium not environmentally sustainable, which underscores need alternative sustainable cultivation techniques ensure continued growth this majestic king herbs. A greenhouse factorial experiment was conducted study replacement reduced supply biochemical traits plants. The included two cultivars (‘Genovese’ ‘Valentino’), three substrate mixes phytoremediated dredged sediment (TS) varying volume percentages (0%, 12.5%, 25%), levels irrigation (normal, by 25%, 37.8%). Increasing TS percentage resulted higher germination rates greater biomass production both compared control. ‘Valentino’ plants produced yield than those ‘Genovese’, while latter had pigment contents genetic characteristics. All combinations substrates mixed highest amounts positively impacted seed biomass-based outputs, control led lower yields capacity. Substrates suitable physicochemical characteristics development. Our findings suggest that using peat–TS mixtures can produce quality results comparable or even better soilless culture only peat. Thus, replacing moderate be effective recycling sediments.