The Improving Seed Physiological Aspects of Black Seed (Nigella sativa L.) in a Calcareous Soil: The Quality Yield Characteristics and Fatty Acids Composition

In order to investigate the role of quality yield characteristics and fatty acids composition on seed quality of black seed (Nigella sativa L.) in a calcareous soil, a field experiment was conducted at the Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran, in 2013. A complete randomized block design was used based on factorial arrangement. In the field experiment, the fertilizer resources (vermicimpost (V) (10 ton ha-1) + Tiobacilus (T), Sulfur (S) (20 ton ha-1) + T, V+S+T and control) and three levels of P (0, 30 and 60 kg.ha-1) were the first and second experimental factors, respectively. Based on proximate analysis of black seeds, V+S+T had a highest significant effect on increasing crude protein, essential (volatile) oil and fixed oil, as compared to control treatment. The applying V+T, S+T and V+S+T had significant decreasing effects on linolenic acid (by 53, 42 and 63%, respectively), as compared to control. The highest linoleic acid (cis) was observed significantly by applying V+S+T. There was the highest significant relationship between linolenic acid and seed vigor (R2=0.69**). Based on our results, vermicompost, especially in combination with sulfur application treatment, can be suitable approach to increasing the fixed oil quality of black seed