Effect of Low Irrigation and Foliar Application of Nano Nitrogen Fertilizer on Quantitative and Qualitative Traits of Black Cumin Seeds (Bunium persicum L.)

This research aims to investigate the effect of low irrigation and foliar application of nano nitrogen fertilizer on quantitative (height, biological and seed yield, thousand seed weight and harvest index) and qualitative (essential oil percentage and yield) traits of black cumin seeds in 2018 in a split plot arrangment complete blocks. A random experiment with three replications was carried out on the farm of the Payame Noor Milajerd University. Irrigation levels include: Irrigation of all furrows (control), irrigation once in between furrows (fixed watering of only odd furrows) and intermittent irrigation of furrows (irrigation in rounds of one week for odd furrows and the next week for even furrows) as main plots and levels of nitrogen foliar application include: No foliar application of fertilizer (control of foliar application of distilled water), application of 1.5 and 3 liters per hectare of nanofertilizer were considered as sub-plots. The results of the experiment showed that the interaction effect of the treatments on all studied traits was significant at the one percent level, so the highest values of quantitative traits (plant height, biological and seed yield, 1000-seed weight, and harvest index) in normal furrow irrigation treatments (without drought stress) with the application of nitrogen nanofertilizer was obtained. While the highest and lowest percentage and yield of essential oil (qualitative properties) were obtained, respectively, in the furrow irrigation method with 3 liters of nitrogen nanofertilizer and constant irrigation treatment without nitrogen nanofertilizer. Considering the economic importance of essential oil performance in the production of medicinal plants and in water shortage conditions and the need for optimal consumption of inputs (water and fertilizer) in the direction of sustainable agriculture, the use of an intermittent irrigation pattern and foliar spraying of 3 liters of nitrogen nanofertilizer, while saving consumption water and production of the highest yield of essential oil in black cumin in the study area is recommended.