Author(s): K. C. BHUTIA, S. BHANDARI, R. CHATTERJEE, S. O. BHUTIA AND N. GURUNG

Abstract: Black cumin (Nigella sativa) is an annual flowering plant, native to Iran and other parts of South West Asia, belonging to the family Ranunculaceae. It is a promising aromatic and medicinal herb found in dry temperate regions and has recently domesticated from its wild habitat. Micronutrients may play an important role, as cofactor, in activation of several enzymes such as those involved in photosynthesis. This would reflect increasing the accumulation of carbohydrates in cells. The present investigation has been carried out at HRS. Mondouri, BCKV, during 2013-2014, to find out the effect of integrated micronutrient spray on yield of black cumin. Four micronutrients namely iron, copper, zinc and boron were included in this investigation. Iron in the form of ferrous sulphate (FeSO , 7H O) @ 0.5%; copper in the form of copper sulphate (CuSO ,7H O) @ 0.2%; zinc in the 4 2 4 2 form of zinc sulphate (ZnSO , 7H O) @ 0.5%; and boron in the form of borax (Na B O ) @ 0.2%. Combination of four 4 2 2 4 7 micronutrients also included. They applied as foliar spray either once or twice. There were altogether 11 treatments including control (water spray). First and second spraying were done at 45 and 60 days after sowing. All experimental plots received a uniform dose of FYM @ 20 tonnes ha-1, 40 kg N, 40 kg P O and 45 kg K Oin the form of urea, single super phosphate and muriate 2 5 2 of potash. FYM and full dose of dose of fertilizer were applied as basal. The observations were recorded on five randomly selected plants from each plot on different growth and yield parameters. The observations regarding the plant height was recorded at 75 and 105 days after sowing (DAS). The number of primary and secondary branches was recorded at 75 DAS. Yield per hectare was calculated on plot yield basis after deducting 20% area utilized for channel, ridges etc. Data recorded on different parameters of black cumin were analyzed statistically to express the result. Among different treatments the double spray of borax 0.2% recorded maximum plant height (90.73 cm) at 105 days after sowing, maximum number of secondary branches (27.61) at 75 DAS and 1000 seed weight (3.02 g) as compared to 76.72 cm, 20.86 and 2.36 g under control. Double spray of ferrous sulphate produced maximum number of primary branches (7.20) against 6.45 number of branch under control. The plants under double spray of zinc sulphate 0.5% caused higher nodal length (7.53 cm) as compared to (5.53 cm) nodal length under control. The single spray of zinc sulphate 0.5% recorded maximum plot yield (171.09 g) and projected yield (760.44 kg ha-1) as compared to plot yield (141.93 g and 630.81 kg). The next best treatment in respect of projected yield was double spray of ferrous sulphate 0.5% and double spray of borax 0.2%.From yield maximization point of view the most effective treatment was zinc sulphate @ 0.5% as single spray followed by ferrous sulphate @ 0.5% as compared to double spray and borax @ 0.2% as single spray under alluvial plains of West Bengal for black cumin production.

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