The effect of different sowing times and seed rate on the yield and quality of black cumin (Nigella sativa L.)

Black cumin (Nigella sativa L.) is a cultivated annual plant. It belongs to Ranunculaceae family and it is widely used today in many countries especially in the Eastern Mediterranean. This research was conducted to determine the effect of sowing times and amount of seed to yield and quality of black cumin in Aydın province in 2014-2015. Trial was conducted according to split plot experimental design with 4 different sowing times (October 15, November 1, November 15, December 1) and 3 different seed amounts (1 kg/da, 2 kg/da, 3 kg/da). According to research results, bilateral interaction of sowing time x amount of seed was significantly important on plant height and number of capsules; plant height (78.90 cm), the number of capsules (16.17 quantity/plant), seed yield (92.35 kg/da) and oil yield (34.8 L/da) values were obtained from 1. sowing time (15 October) amount of 2 kg/da and 3 kg/da seed. There were not any statistically importance in amount of 2 kg/da and 3 kg/da seed. Factor of sowing time was statistically important on the number of branches (9.17 unit/plant), seed weight per capsule (0.31 g/capsule), straw yield (300.73 kg/da), the highest values measured in 1. sowing time (15 October). The highest oil rate (38.17%) was obtained in 2. sowing time (November 1). There was not statistically significant in the number of seeds in capsules (114.10 units/capsule) and thousand seed weight (2.59 g) and the highest value were obtained in 1. sowing time (October 15) and amount of 3 kg/seed. The harvest index another feature that was not statistically significant and it was highest (30.78%) in 2. sowing time (November 1) and amount of 3 kg/da seed. According to these results, optimum sowing time and amount of seed for Aydın province were 1. sowing time and 2 kg/da seed, respectively. Key Words: Black cumin, sowing time, amount of seed, yield, quality