Effect of Different Fertilizer Resources and Humic acid on some Morphological Criteria,Yield and Antioxidant Activity of Black Zira Seed (Bunium persicum Boiss)

Black zira (Bunium persicumBoiss.) is a perennial and aromatic plant from Apiaceae family. Black zira seeds are used in culinary and traditional medicine practices. Black zira has high economic value due to its use in pharmaceutical and food industries. In recent years, black zira cultivation is getting more popular among farmers (Askarzade et al.,2005). Nutrient management and application of organic and chemical fertilizers play an important role in increasing quality and quantity of black zira production. There are few studies which show the importance of nutrients management in Black zira (Bunium persicum Boiss.). Many recent studies have focused on caraway (Carumcarvi L.) (Gomaa and Youssef, 2008) and cumin (Cuminum cyminum) (Saeed Nejhad and Rezvani Moghaddam, 2010(. In the current study, the effect of cattle manure, vermicompost, humicacid and chemical fertilizers (nitrogen and phosphorus) was studied on yield, yield components and antioxidant activity of black zira.
The experiment was conducted in the Agriculture and Natural Resources Research and Education Center of Khorasan Razavi, Mashhad, Iran in 2013-2015. The experiment was designed based on randomized complete block design arranged in a split plot in time with three replicates, consisting of eight main plots [organic sources (cattle manure (10 t. ha-1), vermicompost (5 t. ha-1), humic acid (2.5 kg.ha-1Humax) and control) × chemical fertilizer (N (50 kg.ha-1) P (40 kg.ha-1P2O5) and without NP)] and two sub-plots (first and second year).In this experiment the 3-4 g bulbs were used as seed. In the end of each year, seed yield, biological yield, plant height, umbel number per plant, umblet number per umbel, 1000-seed weight and antioxidant activity were determined. The obtained data were analyzed in a factorial split plot design in time by using SAS, and means were compared by Duncan’s Multiple Range test at 5% probability level.
The results showed that all morphological characteristics, seed yield, yield components and antioxidant activity were affected significantly by studied treatments (p≤0.01). The humic acid application improved seed and biological yield, umbel number per plant and 1000-seed weight compared with control treatment. Humic acid increased seed yield from 16.35 to 29.89 g m-2. Cattle manure improved umbel number per plant, umblet per umbel, seed and biological yield. Seed yield increased by cattle manure application by 57% compared with control treatment. Humic acid and cattle manure improved seed antioxidant activity. Cattle manure increased antioxidant activity by 60% compared with control treatment. The application of NP improved seed and biological yield, umbel number per plant, umblet numberper umbel and plant height. Nitrogen and phosphorus treatment increased seed yield from 19.74 to 26.57 g.m-2. The application of NP had no significant effect on 1000-seed weight. The application of NP also increased antioxidant activity by 40% compared with control treatment.
Based on the results cattle manure plus NP treatment is recommended to gain the highest seed yield and antioxidant activity in black zira.