Growth and yield of cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) as influenced by irrigation methods and protected cultivation practices

Abstract

A field experiment on effect of irrigation methods and protected cultivation practices on growth and yield of cumin was carried out at NRCSS Ajmer. The experiment comprising of five treatments of protected cultivation namely, Plastic walk in tunnel, Insect proof net tunnel, Shade net tunnel, Plastic low tunnel and Open conditions (Control) in main plots and three irrigation method treatments (Pressurized drip irrigation, Low pressure drip irrigation and Flood irrigation) in subplots was conducted with three replications in split plot design. The soil of the experimental plot was sandy loam, with low organic carbon and nitrogen, medium in available phosphorus and sufficient in available potassium. Impact of climatic variations and methods of irrigation was observed with respect to plant growth, flowering, fruiting and yield. The insect proof net tunnel protection resulted highest plant height at all growth stages, branches per plant at harvest, number of umbels per plant, number of seeds per umbel and highest seed yield followed by shade net tunnel. Among irrigation methods, low pressure drip irrigation exhibited significantly the highest plant height at 45 and 90 DAS as well as at harvest, umbels per plant and umblets per umbels and seed yield. Thus it is inferred that insect proof net tunnel with low pressure drip method of irrigation is better for realizing better growth and yield of cumin as compared to other methods.