Investigating the Effects of Different Levels of Phosphorus on Morphological Characteristics of Black cumin (Nagella sativa L.)

Abstract

‌Medicinal plant black cumin (Nigella sativa L.) is an annual herb from the Ranunculaceae family, which has been used us food, medicine, and therapeutic purposes for centuries. There are 20 to 24 species of black cumin in the world, and it is reported that 12 to 15 of these species are found in the flora of various countries. Black cumin is one of the valuable medicinal and aromatic plants that can be easily cultivated in the climatic conditions of Baghlan province. This research was conducted in completely randomized design (CRD) at the research farm of Agriculture Faculty, Baghlan University in 2024. In this study, four levels of phosphorus (0, 65, 130, and 195 kg/ha) were applied. The main objective of this experiment was to examine the morphological traits and yield of the medicinal plant black cumin under different levels of phosphorus. The results indicate that phosphorus fertilizer had a significant effect on the morphological traits of the medicinal plant black cumin. Phosphorus fertilizer at doses of 130and 195 kg/ha had a positive and significant impact on plant height, the number of capsules per plant, the number of seeds per capsule, and the yield of this plant. These results highlight the importance of adjusting appropriate phosphorus levels to improve the vegetative growth and yield of the medicinal plant black cumin.