Vol. 9, Special Issue 9, Part M (2025)

A field experiment was conducted at the College of Agriculture, JNKVV, Jabalpur, to assess the interactive effects of irrigation levels and mulching practices on the seed quality of Nigella sativa. The study employed a split-plot design with four irrigation regimes based on IW/CPE ratios (1.0, 0.8, 0.6, 0.4) as main plots and four mulching practices—black polythene, silver-black polythene, organic mulch, and without mulch—as subplots, resulting in 16 treatment combinations (T₁-T₁₆). The highest essential oil content (2.13%) and fat percentage (32.24%) were recorded under T₁₆ (0.4 IW/CPE + without mulch), followed by T₁₅ (2.04% oil, 32.09% fat; 0.4 IW/CPE + organic mulch) and T₁₃ (1.96% oil, 30.67% fat; 0.4 IW/CPE + black polythene mulch), indicating that moderate deficit irrigation enhances secondary metabolite accumulation. Conversely, the lowest oil (1.08%) and fat (25.79%) were observed under T₂ (1.0 IW/CPE + silver-black mulch) and T₆ (0.8 IW/CPE + silver-black mulch). Test weight was highest under T₂ (2.69 g), T₁ (2.57 g; 1.0 IW/CPE + black mulch), and T₆ (2.49 g), highlighting the positive effect of optimum irrigation with reflective mulches on seed filling. Overall, regulated deficit irrigation at 0.4 IW/CPE combined with organic or black polythene mulch maximizes biochemical seed quality, while higher irrigation (0.8-1.0 IW/CPE) with silver-black mulch ensures superior seed boldness, offering practical strategies to enhance both nutraceutical and commercial value of Nigella sativa.