Effects of Different Nitrogen Dose Applications on Black Cumin (Nigella sativa L.): Some Vegetative Parameters and Oil Ratio

Abstract

Nigella is a medicinal and spice plant belonging to Ranunculaceae family which is cultivated in many regions of the world and in Turkey. A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of nitrogen level (0, 40, 60, 80 and 100 kg N ha-1) on seed yield, the content and composition of oil in black cumin (Nigella sativa L.) seeds in plain conditions in Mardin province. Ammonium sulfate ((NH4)2SO4) was used as N source. The fatty oil content of the mature plant seeds was determined by NMR and isolated by cold press. As a result of the study, it was determined that increasing nitrogen doses had a parallel effect on the plant characteristics examined. Seed yield is ranged between 103.4 - 133.1 kg da-1 and the highest oil content was 39.5%.