Effect of graded application of nitrogen on growth, yield and quality of kalonji [nigella sativa linn] in pot culture

ABSTRACT

Compared with the control without added nitrogen, Nigella sativa plants supplied with nitrogen showed significantly enhanced performance in pot culture at each of the 3 stages of sampling [70, 110 and 140 DAS]. Of the doses applied, 0.92 g N/pot proved best for most of the growth, yield and quality parameters selected. Thus, application of 0.92 g N/pot enhanced shoot length by 29.46% and 6.17%, number of branches by 40.62% and 55.11%, fresh weight by 42.38% and 19.23%, over the no-N control, at 70 and 110 DAS respectively. Among yield characteristics noted at 110 DAS, number of buds was increased by 77.02% and number of flowers, by 62.6%. At 140 DAS, application of 0.92 g N/pot was noted to promote number of pods/plant by 45.78%, number of seeds/plant by 68.43%, seed yield/ plant by 123.96%, oil content of seeds by 7.00% and total oil yield/plant by 425.86%. Incidently, this dose of nitrogen increased leaf N-content at 70 DAS by 24.25% over the control. Apparently, the leaf-N in this treatment interacted optimally with other nutrients, particulary phosphorus, to enhance the solar energy harvesting capacity of the treated plants