Influence of Elicitors and Seed Rate on Enhancing Growth and Seed Yield of Black Cumin (Nigella sativa)

The influence of elicitors (different types viz., T1= control, T2= salicylic acid 50 ppm, T3= gibberellic acid 100 ppm, T4= pinching and seed rate (different levels viz., R1= 8 kg ha-1, R2= 10 kg ha-1, R3= 12 kg ha-1) on enhancing growth and seed yield of black cumin was investigated at Horticulture Farm, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, Bangladesh, during November 2020 to March 2021. Growth related data was maximum on T4 (pinching) treatment but in case of seed yield, T2 (salicylic acid 50 ppm) treatment showed the best result. In case of growth characters, R1 (8 kg ha-1 seed rate) treatment revealed the best result but in case of seed yield, R3 (12 kg ha-1 seed rate) treatment showed the best result. Under this investigation, it was revealed that the highest seed yield per hector (3.89 t) was found from the of T2R3 (salicylic acid 50 ppm and 12 kg/ha seed rate) treatment combination which is statistically similar (3.64 t) to T4R3 (pinching and 12 kg/ha seed rate) treatment combination compared (1.61 t) to T1R1 (control and 8 kg/ha seed rate) treatment combination.  The highest gross return (Tk. 1166520), net return (Tk. 832522) were obtained from the treatment combination T2R3 (salicylic acid 50 ppm and 12 kg/ha seed rate) where the lowest gross return (Tk. 485010), net return (Tk. 220500) were obtained from T1R1 (control and 8 kg/ha seed rate) treatment combination. The highest BCR (3.57) was obtain from the treatment combination T4R3 (pinching and 12 kg/ha seed rate) where the lowest BCR (1.83) was found from T1R1 (control and 8 kg/ha seed rate) treatment combination. Economic analysis revealed that the treatment combination T4R3 (pinching and 12 kg/ha seed rate) was economically profitable than T2R3 (salicylic acid 50 ppm and 12 kg/ha seed rate) treatment combination for black cumin cultivation.