INFLUENCE OF ELICITORS AND SEED RATE ON ENHANCING GROWTH AND SEED YIELD OF BLACK CUMIN (Nigella sativa)

Abstract

The experiment was conducted in the Horticultural Farm of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka-1207, Bangladesh, during November 2020 to March 2021 to study the influence of elicitors and seed rate on enhancing growth and yield of black cumin (Nigella sativa). The experiment consisted of two factors. Factor A: different types of elicitors as, T 1 = salicylic acid 50 ppm, T 3 = gibberellic acid 100 ppm, T 4 = pinching and Factor B: different levels of seed rate as, R 1 = 8 kg/ha, R 2 = 10 kg/ha, R 3 = 12 kg/ha. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. The collected data were statistically analyzed. Results revealed that in terms of elicitors, the highest seed yield per hector (3.29 t) was recorded from the T 2 (salicylic acid 50 ppm) treatment which is statistically similar with (3.19 t) T 4 (pinching) treatment compared (1.90 t) to T 1 (control) treatment. Again, in terms of different levels of seed rate treatments, the highest seed yield per hector (3.30 t) was found from the treatment R 3 (12 kg/ha seed rate) compared (2.33 t) to R 1 (8 kg/ha seed rate) treatment. In case of combined effect of elicitors and seed rate, the highest seed yield per hector (3.89 t) was found from the of T 2 R 3 (salicylic acid 50 ppm and 12 kg/ha seed rate) treatment combination which is statistically similar (3.64 t) to T 4 R 3 (pinching and 12 kg/ha seed rate) treatment combination and the lowest was obtained from T 1 R 1 (control and 8 kg/ha seed rate) treatment combination. The highest BCR (3.57) was obtain from the treatment combination T 4 R 3 (pinching and 12 kg/ha seed rate) where the lowest BCR (1.83) was found from T 1 R 1 (control and 8 kg/ha seed rate) treatment combination. So, it can be concluded on the basis of economic point of view that the treatment combination T 4 R 3 (pinching and 12 kg/ha seed rate) best and profitable than other treatment combination for black cumin cultivation.