Effect of planting dates on cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) landraces in Mashhad conditions

In order to study the effects of fall planting on yield and yield components of five cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) landraces a field trial was arranged in a randomized complete block design as a split-plot with three replications during 2006-07 growing season at the Agricultural Research Station of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. Three fall planting dates (17 Oct. (first), 16 Nov. (second) and 16 Dec. (third)) and five cumin landraces (Torbat Heydarieh, Khaf, Sabzevar, Ghaen and Ghoochan) were allocated to main and sub plots, respectively. Results showed that there were significant differences between planting dates, cumin landraces and their interactions for winter survival percentage, umbel per plant, seeds per umbel, 1000-seed weight, seed yield, biological yield and harvest index (HI). There was a reduction on umbel per- plant and seed per- umbel due to delay in planting date from 17 Oct. to 16 Dec. The highest winter survival percentage, seed yield and biological yield and also HI were achieved on the third planting date. Also, the maximum and minimum seed yield were observed in Ghaen in the third planting date and Khaf in the second planting date with 62.5 gm-2 and 12.1 gm-2, respectively. According to these results and for the deployment of cumin fall planting in other locations of province, further studies are recommended.