College of Dryland Agriculture and Natural Resources Management
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Item Effect of Sowing Methods and Seed Rates on Growth, Yield and Yield Component of Black Cumin (Nigella sativa L.) at Endamekony district, Southern Tigray, Ethiopia(Mekelle University, 2025-06-16) Birhanu RedaBlack cumin (Nigella sativa L.) is an important medicinal and commercial crop in Ethiopia. However, its productivity remains low due to lack of appropriate agronomic practices, particularly sowing methods and seed rates. A field experiment was conducted using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) in a factorial arrangement with three replications to evaluate the effects of sowing methods and seed rates on growth, yield and yield components of black cumin. The factors were; sowing methods and seed rates (5, 7.5, 10 & 12.5 kg ha-1 for row sowing) and (12.5, 15, 17.5, 20 & 22.5 kg ha-1 for broadcasting). DE, DF, DM, PH, NBPP, NCPP, NSPC, 1000 seed weight, YPP and YPH was collected and analyzed using GenStat 18 software. Result showed that, sowing method and seed rate for row sowing was statistically significant (at p < 0.05) on most yield and yield components except in days to maturity. In addition, in broadcast sowing with different seed rates on PH, NBPP, NCPP, NSPC, 1000 SWT and YPH were significant. In row sowing, yield increased from 1383 to 2137 kg ha⁻¹ as seed rate increased from 5 to 10 kg ha⁻¹, then declined to 1647 kg ha⁻¹ at 12.5 kg ha⁻¹. In broadcast sowing, yield increased from 1232 to 1714 kg ha⁻¹ as seed rate increased from 12.5 to 20 kg ha⁻¹, but declined to 1549 kg ha⁻¹ at 22.5 kg ha⁻¹. The interaction effect was significant on NBPP, DM, NCPP and YPH. The highest yield (2137 kg/ha) was obtained from sr3 and followed by sr2 under row sowing (2122 kg/ha). The study concludes that row sowing with a seed rate of 10 kg ha⁻¹ as a main effect and interaction effect and broadcast sowing with 20 kg ha⁻¹ as a main effect are optimal for maximizing black cumin yield. These findings provide practical recommendations for improving black cumin productivity and support evidence-based decision-making for farmers, researchers, and policymakers. However, further research across different agro-ecological zones and seasons is recommended to validate and fine-tune these agronomic practices.