Table 1 The O. basilicum growth parameters (mean ± SD; n = 33) and SPAD (n = 18) cultured in pots of control with commercial substrate (S1: 100% “Einheitserde”: E, + dried starter fertiliser, Trial I) and irrigated with hydroponic fertiliser solution (Control + S1), and basil cultured in pots with 100% standard growth media substrate (“Einheitserde”, E) with irrigation of extensive (EAU) and intensive (IAU) aquaculture process water after 45 days; different letters showing different groups (p < 0.05; p-I: significance value (p) between Control & EAU; p-II: between Control & IAU; p-III: between EAU and IAU).

Parameters	Control + S1	Extensive (E + EAU)	Intensive (E + IAU)	p-I	p-II	p-III
Plant height (cm)	61.9 ± 8.5^a	45.6 ± 4.3^b	48.5 ± 5.0^b	0.001	0.001	0.078
Green weight (g)	72.3 ± 14.2^a	24.9 ± 4.7^b	29.1 ± 5.7^b	0.001	0.001	0.149
Dry weight (g)	6.8 ± 1.3^a	2.4 ± 0.4^c	2.7 ± 0.5^b	0.001	0.001	0.018
Shoot length (cm)	43.0 ± 7.7^a	28.7 ± 3.2^b	30.7 ± 4.5^b	0.001	0.001	0.153
Shoot green weight (g)	58.5 ± 12.6^a	19.6 ± 3.2^c	22.2 ± 4.4^b	0.001	0.001	0.021
Shoot dry weight (g)	5.7 ± 1.2^a	2.0 ± 0.4^b	2.2 ± 0.5^b	0.001	0.001	0.137
Root length (cm)	18.9 ± 2.6^a	16.9 ± 2.6^b	17.9 ± 2.0^ab	0.003	0.206	0.210
Root green weight (g)	13.8 ± 4.5^a	5.3 ± 2.5^b	6.9 ± 2.0^b	0.001	0.001	0.093
Root dry weight (g)	1.1 ± 0.2^a	0.4 ± 0.1^c	0.5 ± 0.1^b	0.001	0.001	0.004
Shoot/root ratio dry weight (g)	5.4 ± 1.4^a	5.3 ± 1.3^a	4.4 ± 0.9^b	1.000	0.005	0.015
Shoot/root ratio length (cm)	2.3 ± 0.6^a	1.7 ± 0.3^b	1.7 ± 0.3^b	0.001	0.001	1.000
Leaf number (no)	71.5 ± 12.0^a	36.3 ± 5.8^b	39.7 ± 5.8^b	0.001	0.001	0.343
Leaf width (cm)	7.7 ± 0.6^a	7.1 ± 0.5^b	7.3 ± 0.3^b	0.001	0.005	0.198
Leaf length (cm)	12.0 ± 0.7^a	10.1 ± 0.6^c	10.7 ± 0.5^b	0.001	0.001	0.001
Leaf green weight (g)	1.2 ± 0.2^a	1.0 ± 0.1^b	0.9 ± 0.1^c	0.001	0.001	0.005
SPAD (%)	39.5 ± 4.2^a	33.6 ± 4.3^b	33.1 ± 4.2^b	0.001	0.001	0.923

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