Growth Status, Yield and Chemical Constituents of Black Cumin Plants as Affected by Applied Different Sources of Organic Manures and Mineral Fertilizers

摘要

AFILED experiment was carried out on a sandy loam soil at a private farm, Sennouris district, El-Fayoum Governorate, Egypt during the two successive seasons of 2007/2008 and 2008/2009 to define the effective role of applied some organic manures (i.e.,farmyard, sheep and poultry wastes) added at the rates of 20, 25 and 30 m~3/fed as compared to the recommended doses of NPK-mineral fertilizers.i.e., 300 kg/fed of ammonium sulphate (20.5 N %), 200 kg/fed of calcium superphosphate (15.5 P_2O_5 %) and 100 kg/fed of potassium sulphate (48 K_2O %) on growth status and chemical constituents of black cumin plants (Nigella sativa L.), taking into consideration the usage of mineral fertilizers as related to the economically and healthy human aspects.The obtained results indicate that the experimental soil is mainly developed on Fayoum alluvial terraces, and it is poorer in each of organic matter (0.32 %) and nutrient bearing minerals, consequently its capacity to retain either plant nutrients or soil moisture is low. That was true, since the available macro and micronutrient contents are lying at the low levels. According to USDA the studied soil could be classified as Typic Torriorthents, sandy, mixed, hyperthermic as well as its suitability classfor irrigated agriculture land was moderately suitable (S2s,) either in current or potential conditions, besides soil texture (S|) represents the most effective soil limitation with an intensity degree of moderate, according to the parametric system .As for the studied plant parameters, i.e., plant height, number of branches/plant, herb fresh weight/plant, chlorophyll a & b, caroteniods, NPK %, total carbohydrate % in the herb, number or weight of capsules/plant, weight of seeds/plant or fed, volatile or fixed oil as a percent, yield/plant or fed, data exhibited different reduction levels due to the applied solely treatments of farmyard and sheep manures at the rates of 20, 25 and 30 m~3/fed as well as poultry manure at a rate of 20 m~3/fed as compared to the applied NPK-mineral fertilizers. Meanwhile, the poultry manure at the rates of 25 and 30 m~3/fed showed an almost similar or slightly increases for all the previous studied plant parameters as compared to the NPK-mineral fertilizers. That wastrue, since the applied poultry manure was an enriched storehouse for essential plant nutrients. Also, data showed there was a parallel increase for all the tested plant parameters with increasing the applied rates of the different organic manures understudy. At the meantime, the effective role of both farmyard and sheep manures at the rate of 30 m~3/fed. poultry manure at the rates of either 25 or 30 m~3/fed and NPK-mineral fertilizers was. statistically, insignificant for the studied plant" parameters.From economically and healthy aspects, it should be recommended by using the available local organic manure such as farmyard manure at the rale of 30 m~3/fed or poultry manure at the rate of 25 m~3/fed. Such favourable approach could be achieved many benefits, i.e., a partial substitution of NPK-mineral doses by local organic sources, which is surplus point for sustainable agriculture system as well as solving the problems of chemical residues in the export market commodities. In addition, such approachrepresents a best option that is not only achieved an alleviated harmful effects of using nitrogenous fertilizers, but also sustaining soil fertility status and reducing the possible risks of environmental pollution on human health.