INFLUENCE OF PHOSPHORUS FERTILIZATION AND SEED RATES ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF BLACK CUMIN (Nigella sativa L.)

Abstract

The experiment was carried out at the “Horticulture Farm” of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, Bangladesh during November 2019 to March 2020 to study influence of phosphorus fertilization and seed rates on growth and yield of black cumin. The experiment consisted of two factors. Factor A: Four levels of phosphorus viz., P = control, P 1 = 35 kg P ha -1 , P 2 = 40 kg P ha -1 and P 3 = 45 kg P ha -1 and Factor B: Three seed rates viz., R 1 = 8 kg seeds ha -1 , R 2 = 10 kg seeds ha -1 and R 3 = 12 kg seeds ha . The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. Data were recorded on growth, yield components and yield of black cumin and significant variation was observed for most of the studied characters. Growth related data was maximum on P 3 (45 kg P ha -1 ) treatment but in case of seed yield, P (40 kg P ha -1 ) treatment showed the best result. In case of growth characters, R 1 2 -1 (8 kg seeds ha ) treatment revealed the best result but in case of seed yield, R 2 (10 kg seeds ha ) treatment showed the best result. In case of different levels of phosphorus, the highest seed yield (1.22 t ha -1 ) was obtained from P 2 (40 kg P ha -1 ) treatment whereas the lowest seed yield (0.98 t ha -1 ) was obtained from P (control) treatment. In case of different seed rates, the highest seed yield (1.14 t ha -1 0 ) was obtained from R 2 (10 kg seeds ha ) treatment whereas the lowest seed yield (1.07 t ha -1 ) was obtained from R (12 kg seeds ha -1 ) treatment. So, it was observed that the highest seed yield (1.27 t ha ) was obtained from P 2 R 2 (40 kg P ha -1 + 10 kg seeds ha -1 ) treatment combination. On the other hand, the lowest seed yield (0.94 t ha -1 ) was obtained from of P 0 R 3 -1 3 (control + 12 kg seeds ha ) treatment combination. So, it was revealed that the P 2 R treatment combination appeared to be best for achieving the higher growth and seed yield of black cumin.