Effect of organic amendments on sustainable production, quality and soil fertility in nigella (Nigella sativa L.)

Abstract The over use of chemical fertilizers and other synthetic inorganic agri-inputs has led to air pollution, groundwater contamination, soil organic matter loss, and a decline in crop quality. Environmental sustainability has declined as a result of agri-food production systems' over-reliance on agrochemicals. Nigella is one of the important seed spices and has got a place among the top-ranked evidence-based herbal medicines. Many food and pharmaceutical firms prefer to use products that are cultivated organically. Hence, an attempt has been made towards the sustainable production of nigella by organic amendments to soil for nutrition. The experiment comprised 14 treatments including control for supply of the recommended dose of nitrogen to nigella through organic amendments. The holistic assessment of results confirmed that supply of 100% of the recommended dose of nitrogen (40 kg ha −1 ) through alone application of farmyard manure (8 t ha −1 ) to soil could be the ideal organic amendment to soil for nutrition in the view of optimum seed yield (923 kg ha −1 ), harvest index (20.05%), sustainability yield index (0.77) and organic carbon (0.242%) among the organic amendments tested in the arid and semi-arid regions of India. Practicing this, the sustainable development goals could be achieved to some extent. Besides, the supply of 100% recommended dose of nitrogen through the combined application of farmyard manure, vermi-compost and neem-cake 33.3% each was found promising in the interest of oil yield.