Effect of Intercropping Black Cumin (Nigella sativa L.) Plants on Garlic (Allium sativum) Plants on Microbial Community of Soil, Productivity and Quality of Both Crops

Abstract

The present study was carried out at Farm of Agricultural Research Center in Gemmeiza Agricultural Research Station, Egypt, El- Gharbia Governorate during the two consecutive winter seasons of 2016/2017 and 2017/2018.To evaluate effect of intercropping garlic bulbs on black cumin plants on microbial community of soil, productivity and quality of both crops. And there are 4 levels of intercropping as main plots (50%, 66%, 99%) intercropping, solocropped plants) and the 3 nitrogen fertilization levels were as subplots (50%, 75%, 100% nitrogen) were considered. The obtained results showed the importance of intercropping black cumin plants on garlic plants in improving the growth and yield of black cumin seeds, fixed oil and of volatile oil black cumin plants compared to solocropped plants. The treatment (T6) is increased the weight of ( the seeds of one capsule, 1000 seeds, of the capsules / plant, the seeds / plant, the seeds / plot, the seeds / fedd.) and the number of capsules / plant, for black cumin plants and increased the fresh and dry weight both of the head (gm) and dry weight (Kg) / fedd. for garlic bulbs, while the treatment (T5) is resulted in an increase in the volatile oil%, the weight of ( the volatile oil and the fixed oil) L/ fedd. on both seasons for black cumin plants and increase the organic acids in the fixed oil and increased the volatile oil % and the weight of volatil oil L/fedd. for garlic bulbs. The treatment (T9) is increased the fixed oil % for black cumin, while (T4) is increased total carbohdrates % in bulbs.