EFFECT OF DIFFERENT LEVELS OF NITROGN, PHOPHORUS AND POTASSIUM ON GROWTH , YIELD AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF CUMIN (Cuminum cyminum L.) PLANT GROWN UNDER SINAI CONDITIONS.

Field experiments were carried out at El-Shiekh Zowayed of North Sinai Governorate. The study included the application of three different types of chemical fertilizers namely; ammonium sulphate, potassium sulphate and calcium super phosphate. The First and second fertilizers were applied at three different levels, whereas the third was applied at only one level. The study investigates the effect of interaction between the three fertilizers. Thus, a combination between the three fertilizers at the three applied levels was added to a reclaimed sandy soil. Cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) fruits were cultivated in treated and untreated sandy soils at 15 November in the growth season 2002/2003 and at 30 November in the growth season 2003/2004. The result obtained indicated an obvious increase in different investigated growth parameters as shoot length, fresh and dry weight of shoot, number of branches, number of umbels and number of fruits per plant. Moreover a marked increase in cumin shoot system of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, total carbohydrates and total proteins was obtained in response to different treatments under investigation, if compared with the control group. There were no appreciable differences in the response of cumin plants to fertilization treatments at the two seasons of cultivation.