Evaluation Caraway (Carum Carvi) Growth and Yield Component as Affected by Chemical, Organic and Biological Fertilizers

Abstract

In order to evaluate the combination effect between chemical (NPK), organic (10, 15 and 20 ton/feddan) and biological fertilizers (effective microorganisms at 10, 15 and 20 kg/ feddan) on growth and yield component characters of caraway (Carum carvi L.) plants a field experimental study was established. The experiment was simple in complete randomized block design in four replicates through winter season of 2023/2024 at Ghasala Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University, Egypt. Fertilized caraway plants with N60P33.75K20 + 10ton compost/ feddan recorded the tallest plants with significant difference with the other fertilizers types under study. Utilizing 10 or 20-ton compost plus 20 or 10 effective microorganisms (EM), respectively or 20-ton compost alone significantly increased number of branches per plant. The heaviest herb fresh and dry weights as well as longest root length of caraway were obtained with 10-ton compost + 20 kg EM/feddan in comparison with the other combinations under study. The highest roots fresh and dry weights per plant were produced when caraway plants fertilized by 15-ton compost + 15 kg EM/feddan. In general, the highest fruit yield per plant and per feddan were noticed with the combination between 20-ton compost + 10 kg EM/feddan with significant difference with the other treatments under study.