EFFECT OF SOWING DATES AND PLANTING DISTANCES ON NIGELLA SATIVA

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Horticultural Research Institute, Agricultural Research Centre, Giza, Egypt

Abstract

Two field trials were conducted during 1996 and 1997 seasons at El Gimeza Research Station Farm, to study the effect of sowing date (Nov. 1st and Nov. 15th), and three planting distances 15,30 and 45cm between plants, on the vegetative growth, nitrogen, phosphorus content of seeds, crude and volatile oil of Nigella saliva . The data showed that the vegetative growth significantly in‌creased at the early sowing date Nov. 1st and at the wider space 45 cm. Seed weight per plant also increased. The data also showed that the seed yield per plot significantly decreased by increasing planting distanc‌es. Nitrogen percentage and phosphorus content of seed significant‌ly increased at the early sowing date. Increasing planting distances, the nitrogen percentage significantly increased, while the opposite was ob‌served for phosphorus . The crude oil and oil percentage significantly increased at early sowing date, and by increasing planting distance.