Effect of Sowing Date and Limited Irrigation on the Seed Yield and Quality of Dill (Anethum graveolens L.)

Authors: SAEID ZEHTAB-SALMASI, KAZEM GHASSEMI-GOLEZ, SAJAD MOGHBELI

Abstract: Field and laboratory experiments were carried out in order to investigate the influence of 3 sowing dates and 4 irrigation disruption treatments at different growth stages on the seed yield and quality of dill (Anethum graveolens L.). The results showed that for successful seed production dill must be sown in early spring (3 to 18 April), since there was no significant difference in seed yield between the sowing dates of 3 April (S_1) and 18 April (S_2). Seeds from S_1 sowing had a higher percentage of germination after accelerated ageing (AA), a faster germination rate and a heavier seedling dry weight (SDW), compared to S_2 and S_3 (4 May). Irrigation disruption during stem elongation (I_1) and umbel appearance (I_2) had no significant effect on mean seed weight, AA germination, mean germination time (MGT) or SDW of harvested seeds. However, water deficit during seed filling (I_3) reduced seed vigour significantly. Although irrigation disruption at this stage (I_3) had no considerable effect on the seed yield of dill, it reduced seed quality and vigour, especially at later sowings (S_2 and S_3). Therefore, it was recommended that for producing high quality dill seeds it is necessary to provide sufficient water during seed filling.

Keywords: Anethum graveolens, dill, sowing date, limited irrigation, seed quality, seed yield

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