AGROTECHNICAL INVESTIGATION TOWARDS STANDARDIZATION OF BLACK CUMIN SEED PRODUCTION (Nigella sativa L.)

This paper presents growing possibilities of oily and medicinal plant - black cumin (Nigella sativa L.), and defines agro-technical standards for this. Use of seed and black cumin oil in the world is increasing. With regard to this, the goal of this study was to establish technical procedure for cultivation of this, less commonly cultivated species in Serbia. Investigation was carried out during 2013– 2015., at the experimental field of the Institute for Medicinal Plant Research Dr Josif Pancic, in Pancevo, Serbia. For the experimental purposes, domesticated population of black cumin was used. Following three planting dates– Early (half of March), Middle (half of April), and Late (half of May), and three row spacings – 25, 50 and 75 cm, has been tested. The obtained results document that the average length of the entire vegetation period was ca. 120 days, thought which the plants passes 13 different phenology phases (five vegetative and eight reproductive), for the first time described for agro-ecological conditions of Serbia. Influence of individual and combined effects of different sowing dates and row spacings on morphology and yields of dry and ripe black cumin seeds were recorded. Individually, the highest yields were obtained in the treatment with sowing date mid-April in combination with the row spacing of 50 cm, averagelly 752 kg*ha-1. Good achievments in cultivation are very important with regard to so precious properties of black cumin seeds. With defined appropiate growing technology, Serbian farmers will be able to continuously provide this raw materials with consistent quantity and quality, intended for application in food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.