Effect of Some Agricultural Practices on Cumin (Cuminum Cyminum L.) Productivity under Rainfed Conditions of Jordan

A study was conducted to investigate the effect of planting dates, nitrogen fertilizer levels and seeding rates on the yield and some growth characters of cumin Cuminum cyminum L. The experiment was a split-split plot with randomized complete block design with three replications and implemented during the growing season of 2004/2005 at two locations; Mushaqar and Maru experimental stations. The results at Maru revealed that early sowing on December 1 resulted in an increase in fruit yield by 26% and 64%, and an increase in biological yield by 31% and 68% as compared to sowing on December 29 and January 31, respectively. Also early sowing resulted in an increase in plant height, number of branches per plant, number of umbels per plant, number of seeds per umbel, number of seeds per plant, but a decrease in weight of 1000 seed. Plants received 20 kg and 40 kg N ha -1 at Maru gave higher fruit yield by 22% and 27%, and higher biological yield by 17% and 28% as compared to unfertilized plants. At Maru, 30 kg ha-1 seeding rate gave the highest fruit yield and biological yield. At Mushaqar location, the differences between the evaluated treatments were not significant.