Influence of Bioformulation on Growth, Yield and Quality of Black Cumin (Nigella sativa L.)

Panchagavya, an organic product has the potential to play the role of promoting growth and providing immunity in plant system. Panchagavya consists of nine products viz. cow dung, cow urine, milk, curd, jaggery, ghee, banana, Tender coconut and water. When suitably mixed and used, these have miraculous effects. Nigella sativa L. is an annual herb possessing wide range of medicinal uses apart from its commercial significance as a spice-yielding plant. It is used in folk (herbal) medicine all over the globe for the treatment and prevention of a number of diseases and its organic cultivation has gained importance in recent times. Keeping this in view, a field experiment was conducted. The treatments composed of T1 (Panchagavya foliar spray @ 4%), T2(Panchagavya foliar spray @ 8%), T3(Panchagavya foliar spray @ 12%), T4(Panchagavya foliar spray @ 16%), T5(Panchagavya foliar spray @ 20%) and T6 (water spray- Control) were evaluated. Among treatment T5 (Panchagavya as foliar spray @ 20%) recorded the maximum plant height of 29.95cm, 60.45cm and 73.09cm respectively at 60,90 and 120 DAS, the maximum number of primary branches and secondary branches of 7.18/plant and 24.54/plant were recorded at 120 DAS. Highest projected seed yield of 566.39 kg/ha along with highest dry pod weight (0.32g) pod diameter (0.93cm), seed yield/plant (2.62g), 1000 seed weight (2.10g) along with the maximum essential oil content (1.06%) and highest B:C ratio of 1.88 with a highest net return of Rs.52982/ha recorded under the same treatment. T4 (Panchagavya as foliar spray @ 16%) recorded 2nd highest plant height of 29.51cm, 59.26cm and 72.71 cm at 60,90 and 120 DAS and 2nd highest Projected seed yield of 547.73 kg/ha with other characters like dry pod weight (0.30g), pod diameter (0.92cm), seed yield/plant (2.09g) and 1000 seed weight (2.09g) along with essential oil content of 1.01% and 2nd highest cost benefit ratio of 1.84 and net return of Rs.49850/ha which were at par with T5(Panchagavya foliar spray at 20%).