RESPONSE OF Carum carvi L. FRUIT AND ESSENTIAL OIL YIELD TO SOWING METHOD , PLANTING DISTANCES AND SOME MICRONUTRIENT APPLICATION METHODS

Two field trials were conducted during 1998 / 1999 and 1999 / 2000 at El-Gimiza Research Station Farm, to study the effect of sowing method (at one side of the ridge or both sides of the ridge), two planting distances (20 or 30 cm) and some micronutrients (mixture of Zn , Mn and Fe) as seed coating or foliar spray on the growth, fruit and oil yield and essential oil constituents of Carum carvi L.
The data showed that the vegetative growth and fruit yield/plant significantly increased with  sowing plants at  one side of the ridge and wide space of 30 cm, each alone. Where the fruit and oil yield / fed, significantly increased by sowing plants at both sides of the ridge and narrow space of  20 cm, each alone. Essential oil percentage was not affected by sowing method or spacing. The micronutrients (Mixture of Zn, Mn and Fe) increased the growth, fruit and oil yield and essential oil percentage, but seed coating exerts more beneficial effects compared to folair method. The interaction between sowing methods and spacing significantly increased vegetative growth and fruit and oil yield / fed. Carvon was the major constituent of the essential oil forming more than  75%, carvon and limonene slightly decreased by micronutrients application.
The best treatment for fruit (seed) and oil yield was that of coating seed with a mixture of Zn, Mn and Fe and spacing it at 20 cm in both sides of the ridge.