The adaptability of black cumin (Nigella sativa L.) varieties in the mid land areas of Guji Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

Black cumin (Nigella sativa L.) is one of the most important spice and cash crop produced in Ethiopia. However, in the midland areas of Guji zone an access of improved Black cumin variety is highly limited. Due to this and other bottle neck factors, the potential of the area to Black cumin crop is not exploited. So, there is an urgent need to develop and promote technologies that suit for the area. As a result, the current experiment was conducted in the midland areas of Guji Zone (Dibayu, Gobicha, and Dole) at three farmers’ field to evaluate the growth and yield performance of Black cumin varieties and to select and recommend high yielding and diseases resistant Black cumin variety(ies) for midlands areas of Guji zone. Six improved Black cumin varieties Silingo, Eden, Gemechis, Derbera, Dershaye, and Sooressaa were used as testing crop. The treatments were arranged in randomized completed block design (RCBD) with three replications. Agronomic data were collected based on the recommended standards. The collected data from the basis of the crop subjected to analysis of variance. The analysis of variance indicated that significant differences observed at (P≤ 0.05) among the tested Black cumin varieties for days to 50% emergence, numbers of pod per plant and seed yield. However, non-significant difference was observed at (P> 0.05) among the varieties for day to 50% flowering, day to 90% maturity, plant height, and number seed per pod. The highest seed yield was recorded from Sooressaa (11.59 qt ha^-1) followed by Silingo (11.12 qt ha^-1) improved Black cumin varieties respectively. But, the lowest seed yield was obtained from Dershaye Variety (7.22 qt ha^-1).  Accordingly, Black cumin improved varieties Sooressaa and Silingo were selected by farmers due to their best performance, adaptability, and highest seed yield. Thereby, these two Sooressaa and Silingo improved Black cumin varieties were selected based on agronomic data result and recommended for production to the midland areas of Guji zone.