EFFECT OF DATE OF SOWING AND SPACING ON GROWTH AND SEED YIELD OF BLACK CUMIN (Nigella sativa L.)

Abstract

An experiment was conducted at the central research field of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka during November 2019 April 2020 to study the effect of date of sowing and plant spacing on growth and yield of black cumin (Nigella sativa L.). Black cumin variety BARI Kalozira 1 was used as planting material in this study. The experiment consisted of two factors: Factor-A consisted of four different sowing dates like T 1

November, T 2 = 20 th November, T 3 =5 th December, T 4 II = 20 th December ., Factor B consisted of four levels of spacing like S 1 = 20cm×10cm, S 2 = 20cm×20cm, S 3 = 25cm×10cm, S 4 = 25cm×20cm. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (factorial) with three replications. Data on different growth, yield contributing and yield parameter of black cumin were recorded and significant variation was observed from different treatments. In case of sowing date the tallest plant ( 45.99 cm) , the maximum primary branch plant (8.4) and secondary branch plant -

1 (15.20), flower plant -1 (20.15), capsules plant (18.80), seeds capsules -1 (84.41), 1000 seed weight (2.49 g) ,the highest seed yield plant (4.02 g), seed yield plot -1 (249.92 g), germination percentage (84.00%) and vigor index (1059.5) was observed from T 1 (5 th November ) treatment. In case of plant spacing the tallest plant (44.96 cm) was observed from S 1 (20cm×10cm) treatment. The maximum primary branch plant-1 (8.2) and secondary branch plant-1 (14.45), days to 50% flowering, maximum seeds capsules-1 (84.75) , seed yield per plant(4.61), 1000 seed weight (2.92 g), germination percentage(82%), vigor index(1073.2) was observed from S4(25cm × 20cm) treatment.

Flower plant-1 (19.3), capsules plant-1 (17.81) was observed from S 2 (20cm×20cm) treatment. Maximum seed yield plot-1 (316.83 g) was recorded from S 1 (20cm×10cm) treatment. Among the treatment combinations T 1 S 4 (5 th November sowing with 20cm×25cm spacing) treatment give highest seed yield plant -1 (4.96 g) and the lowest (3.03 g) was obtained from T 4 S 1 (20 th December sowing with 20cm×10 cm spacing) treatment. So the treatment combination T 1 S 4 (5 th November sowing with 20cm×25cm spacing) appeared to be the best for achieving the maximum growth and seed yield of black cumin.