A comparative stud on growth, yield and chemical constituents of Nigella sativa L., (Black Cumin)‎ plants as affected by applied different sources of organic and mineral fertilizers

Abstract EN

A filed experiment was carried out during the two successive seasons of 2005 / 2006 and 2006/2007 on a private farm at Sennouris, Fayoum Governorate of to evaluate the effect of some organic manures, i.e., farmyard manure; sheep manure and poultry manure added at the rates of 20, 25 and 30 m3/fed., as compared to the recommended doses of minerals "NPK" (control), i.e., 300 kg/fed.

of ammonium sulphate (20.5%N) ; 200 kg/fed.

of calcium superphosphate (15.5%P2O5) and 100 kg/fed., of potassium sulphate (48%K2O) on growth and chemical constituents of black cumin (Nigella sativa L.) plants, taking into consideration the economical and healthy aspects.

The obtained results indicate that, the studied growth parameters i.e., plant height, number of branches/plant, herb fresh weight/plant, number or weight of capsules/plant, weight of seeds/plant or feddan, volatile and fixed oil %, volatile or fixed oil yield/plant or feddan, chlorophyll a and b, caroteniods, NPK% and total carbohydrate of % in the herb were tended to decrease by applying farmyard and sheep manures at the rates of 20 , 25 and 30 m3/fed.as well as poultry manure at rate of 20 m3/fed as compared to the applied mineral "NPK" fertilizers (control).

On the other hand poultry manure at the rate of 30 m3/fed.

showed similar or slightly increases for all the studied growth parameters and chemical constituents of black cumin plants as component to the mineral "NPK" (control).

Also, data show that increasing the applied rate of organic manure significantly increased all growth parameters, chemical constituents of plants as well as yield and its components.

At the meantime both farmyard manure and sheep manure at the rate of 30 m3/fed, poultry manure at the rates of 25 and 30 m3/fed and mineral fertilizers "NPK" (control), were statistically insignificant for the growth parameters and chemical constituents black cumin plants.

So, the highest values of the previous plant parameters were obtained when black cumin plants received poultry manure at the rate of 25 m3/fed.

From economically and healthy aspects, it should be recommended to use the organic manures such as farmyard manure at the rate of 30 m3/fed.

and poultry manure at the rate of 25m3/fed.