The study was carried out in 2002 and 2003. The experimental material was basil plants cultivated in the field for a bunch harvest, using for plant covering perforated foil and polypropylene unwoven cloth. The control object was basil grown without covering. The covers tested in the experiment had a significant influence on the yielding of basil cultivated for a bunch harvest. The highest yield was obtained when polypropylene unwoven cloth was used. Basil plants grown under polypropylene unwoven cloth were the highest (18.2 cm), had the biggest diameter (13.4 cm) and the largest leaves (5.9 cm long and 3.3 cm wide). Using covers (perforated foil and polypropylene unwoven cloth) caused a decrease of dry matter content in the yield of basil, in comparison with the plants grown without covering.The covers used in the study caused a decrease of nitrogen, potassium, calcium and magnesium in the basil yield, but did not decrease phosphorus and sodium content.