Effect of Planting and Vermicompost Dates on1 Quantitative and Qualitative Yield of Cumin in Shahr-e-Rey Region

This research was conducted to study the effect of different planting dates and different levels of vermicompost biofertilizer on quantitative and qualitative yield potential of Cuminum cyminum L following split plot (completely randomized block) design with three replications in the research farm of Islamic Azad University Shahr-e Rey branch. Different planting dates (Nov. 20, Nov. 30, Mar. 5, and Feb. 25) were used as main factors and different levels of vermicompost fertilizer (control, 3, and 5 tons per hectare) were applied as sub factors. Different agronomic traits were also evaluated. The effect of planting dates on all traits except harvest index was significant. Many of the traits such as plant height, 1000 grain weight, biological yield, grain yield, straw yield, and essential oil yield were significant among different levels of biofertilizer. The interaction between sowing dates and biofertilizer was significant on number of umbels per plant and the number of seeds per plant, with no significant effect on other traits.According to the results, 3 tons of vermicompost/ha in summer sowing date with 1174 kg/ha grain yield and 60 kg essential oil per hectare demonstrated a significant better performance in comparison with other treatments. According to the results obtained from this study, it is recommended to have this plant cultivated in a weather condition in Shahr-e-Rey area on November 20, with the consumption of 3 tons per hectare of vermicompost.