Application of Clinoptilolite Natural Zeolite and Irrigation Management on Yield and Yield Components of Black Cumin Plant (Nigella sativa L.)

This research was conducted with the aim of studying the effect of interaction of water stress and different levels of zeolite on growth and yield characteristics of black cumin (Nigella sativa L)plant during cropping season of 2018. The study was based on completely randomized block design as split plots, with irrigation at two levels (I1 and I2: irrigation with 100% and 50% water requirement, respectively) and zeolite treatment at three levels (Z0: without Z1 and Z2: using potassium zeolite at 2 and 4 gr.kg-1 soil, respectively), with three replications at Research Farm of Faculty of Agriculture, University of Birjand. Under the influence of interaction between zeolite and irrigation management, the highest plant height was 16.88 cm, and weight of fresh and dry yield and 1000-seed were, respectively, 11.96, 9.33, and 13.19 g. Also the number of capsules per plant and seeds per capsules were, respectively, 10.11 and 52.44. The maximum grain yield was 874.77 kg.ha-1 and water use efficiency (WUE) was 0.135 kg.m-3, respectively. The lowest values for the corresponding parameters were 13.13 cm, 7.4, 5.05, and 11.95 g, respectively, and 8.33 and 44.44 for the number of capsules per plant and seeds per capsule, yield of 748 kg.ha-1 and WUE of 0.118 kg.m-3,. Water stress led to a decrease in the characteristics of growth and yield of black cumin. Therefore, application of zeolite at high levels (15 tons per hectare), especially under full irrigation of the plant, could lead to maximum yield and characteristics of black cumin growth.