Growth and Seed Yield of Cumin as Influenced by Different Weather Conditions

Abstract

The present study aimed to quantify the effects of weather conditions associated with different sowing dates on cumin and to develop relationships between phase-wise weather variables and crop performance. The experiment was conducted at Sardarkrushinagar, Gujarat, during the rabi seasons of 2022-23 and 2024-25 to quantify the effect of weather on cumin growth and seed yield under seven sowing dates, viz. 1st November, 5th November, 10th November, 15th November, 20th November, 25th November, and 30th November, with four replications. The results revealed that cumin growth and yield attributes were significantly influenced by sowing date. Plant height (26.30 cm), fresh weight (15.84 g/plant), dry weight (4.37 g/plant), number of branches per plant (7.28), number of seeds per umbellate (6.98), number of umbels per plant (26.75), number of umbellates per umbel (5.31), test weight (4.52 g), and seed yield (415 kg/ha) were significantly higher in the crop sown on 10th November (D3). Thereafter, these components decreased with delayed sowing. However, volatile oil content (5.50%) was significantly higher in the crop sown on 5th November. Correlation and regression analyses revealed that cumin growth and seed yield were negatively affected by photo temperature, nycto temperature, and relative humidity during the flowering, grain development, and maturity phases. Simple regression models explained 43.0 to 75.8% of the variation, whereas multiple regression models explained 52.1 to 93.3% of the variation in cumin growth and yield attributes.