Journal of Crops Improvement

Journal of Crops Improvement

The Effect of Organic Fertilizer and Beneficial Microorganisms on The Seedling Emergence and Establishment of Black Cumin

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Shirin Taghizoghi 1
Elias Soltani 2
Iraj Alahdadi 3
Meisam Rezaei 4
Vahid Alah Jahandideh Mahjen Abadi 5
1 Department of Agronomy Sciences and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agricultural Technology (Aburaihan), University of Tehran, Pakdasht, Iran
2 Department of Agronomy Sciences and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agricultural Technology (Aburaihan), University of Tehran, Pakdasht, Iran.
3 Department of Agronomy Sciences and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agricultural Technology (Aburaihan), University of Tehran, Pakdash. Iran.
4 Soil and Water Research Institute, Karaj, Iran
5 Soil and Water Research Institute, Karaj, Iran.
10.22059/jci.2026.405580.2961
Abstract
Objective: This study investigated the effects of vermicompost and different application methods of beneficial microorganisms on the seedling emergence and growth of black cumin (Nigella sativa L.) during the 2023–2024 and 2024–2025 growing seasons in Pakdasht and Karaj, Iran, respectively. The interactive effects of these factors on seedling growth and mortality were also evaluated.
Method: The research was conducted as a factorial experiment in a randomized complete block design with two factors: vermicompost application (5 t ha⁻¹ and no application) and seed biological treatment (11 different combinations), at two separate locations with four blocks each. The microorganisms included Pseudomonas fluorescens, Bacillus megaterium, and mycorrhiza (a blend of Funneliformis mosseae, Rhizophagus irregularis, and Claroideoglomus etunicatum strains).
Results: Analysis of variance showed that vermicompost application had a significant positive effect (at the 1% level) on all measured traits in both regions. With vermicompost application in the Pakdasht and Karaj regions, respectively, the number of nodes on the main stem increased by 22% and 15%, seedling dry weight by 9% and 8%, germination percentage by 10% and 10%, germination rate by 15% and 28%, and final establishment percentage by 22% and 18%. The effect of microorganism type and application method was significant only on germination rate in both regions, and the interaction between microorganism application method and vermicompost was not significant for any trait. Thus, vermicompost application generally enhanced the positive effects of the microorganisms, whereas the different application methods did not produce significant differences in the results.
Conclusions: The application of vermicompost improved the measured traits to a desirable extent at both locations, indicating the high potential of this fertilizer for mitigating environmental stresses. Emergence percentage and rate, number of nodes on the main stem, and seedling dry weight were improved with the biological treatments. Among the biological treatments, biopriming with Pseudomonas fluorescens was the most effective, achieving the highest values for all growth indices in both regions. Although mycorrhizal treatments were superior to the control, they performed less well than the bacterial treatments. The results also clearly show that the efficacy of biological treatments is strongly affected by environmental conditions, and that maximizing their effectiveness requires designing the optimal combination of microorganisms and application methods according to the specific conditions of each location.
Keywords
Biopriming Growth
Promoting Bacteria Hydropriming Vermicompost
آمارنامه وزرات جهاد کشاورزی، 1396.
اسدی رحمانی، هادی؛ جهاندیده مهجن آبادی، وحیداله؛ رجالی، فرهاد و خسروی، هوشنگ (1401). کودهای زیستی: سازوکارها و روش­های مصرف. تهران: مؤسسه تحقیقات خاک و آب. 209.
قانع، حسین؛ امیرشکاری، حسین و ناجی، امیر محمد (1396). اثر پرایمینگ و تاریخ کاشت بر صفات عملکردی و فیزیولوژیکی دو توده زیره سبز. به‌زراعی کشاورزی، 19(3)، 561-575.
Adeleke, B.S., Babalola, O.O., & Glick, B.R. (2021). Plant growth-promoting root-colonizing bacterial endophytes. Rhizosphere, 20, 100433.
Ali, S., Moon, Y.S., Hamayun, M., Khan, M.A., Bibi, K., & Lee, I.J. (2022). Pragmatic role of microbial plant biostimulants in abiotic stress relief in crop plants. Journal of Plant Interactions, 17(1), 705-718.
Asadi-rahmani, H., Jahandideh-mahjen-abadi, V. A., Rejali, F., & Khosravi, H. (2022). Biofertilizers: Mechanisms and Methods of Application, Tehran, Soil and Water Research Institute. (In Persian).
Ashraf, M., & Foolad, M. R. (2005). Pre‐sowing seed treatment A shotgun approach to improve germination, plant growth, and crop yield under saline and non‐saline conditions. Advances in Agronomy, 88, 223-271.
Atta, M. B. (2003). Some characteristics of nigella (Nigella sativa L.) seed cultivated in Egypt and its lipid profile. Food Chemistry, 83(1), 63-68.
Bashan, Y., Holguin, G., & De-Bashan, L. E. (2004). Azospirillum-plant relationships: physiological, molecular, agricultural, and environmental advances. Canadian Journal of Microbiology, 50(8), 521-577.
Bennett, A. J., & Whipps, J. M. (2008). Dual application of beneficial micro-organisms to seed during drum priming. Applied Soil Ecology, 38(1), 83-89.
Brar, B., Bala, K., Saharan, B. S., Sadh, P. K., & Duhan, J. S. (2024). Bio-boosting agriculture: Harnessing the potential of fungi-bacteria-plant synergies for crop improvement. Discover Plants, 1(1), 21.
Chakraborti, S., Bera, K., Sadhukhan, S., & Dutta, P. (2022). Bio-priming of seeds: Plant stress management and its underlying cellular, biochemical and molecular mechanisms. Plant Stress, 3, 100052.
Chalker-Scott, L. (2002). Do anthocyanins function as osmoregulators in leaf tissues? Advances in Botanical Research, 37, 104-129.
Chen, A., Gu, M., Wang, S., Chen, J., & Xu, G. (2018). February. Transport properties and regulatory roles of nitrogen in arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis. In Seminars in Cell & Developmental Biology, (74), 80-88. Academic Press.
de Andrade, L.A., Santos, C.H.B., Frezarin, E.T., Sales, L.R., & Rigobelo, E.C. (2023). Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria for sustainable agricultural production. Microorganisms, 11(4), 1088.
Fiodor, A., Ajijah, N., Dziewit, L., & Pranaw, K. (2023). Biopriming of seed with plant growth-promoting bacteria for improved germination and seedling growth. Frontiers in Microbiology, 14, 1142966.
Fira, D., Dimkić, I., Berić, T., Lozo, J., & Stanković, S. (2018). Biological control of plant pathogens by Bacillus species. Journal of Biotechnology, 285, 44-55.
Goswami, L., Gorai, P. S., & Mandal, N. C. (2021). Microbial fortification during vermicomposting: A brief review. Recent Advancement in Microbial Biotechnology, 99-122.
Ghane, H. Amirshekari, H., & Naji, A. M. (2017). The effects of planting date and seed priming on yield and physiological traits of two cumin ecotypes. Journal of Agricultural Crops Production, 19(3), 561-575. (In Persian).
Harzallah, H. J., Kouidhi, B., Flamini, G., Bakhrouf, A., & Mahjoub, T. (2011). Chemical composition, antimicrobial potential against cariogenic bacteria and cytotoxic activity of Tunisian Nigella sativa essential oil and thymoquinone. Food Chemistry, 129(4), 1469-1474.
Hussain, J., Khan, A. L., Rehman, N., Hamayun, M., Shinwari, Z. K., Ullah, W., & Lee, I. J. (2009). Assessment of herbal products and their composite medicinal plants through proximate and micronutrients analyses. Journal of Medicinal Plants Research, 3(12), 1072-1077.
Jaleel, C.A., Manivannan, P.A.R.A.M.A.S.I.V.A.M., Wahid, A., Farooq, M., Al-Juburi, H.J., Somasundaram, R.A.M.A.M.U.R.T.H.Y., & Panneerselvam, R. (2009). Drought stress in plants: a review on morphological characteristics and pigments composition. International Journal of Agriculture and Biology, 11(1), pp.100-105.
Jisha, K. C., Vijayakumari, K., & Puthur, J. T. (2013). Seed priming for abiotic stress tolerance: an overview. Acta Physiologiae Plantarum, 35(5), 1381-1396.
Khosravi, H., Khoshru, B., Nosratabad, A.F., & Mitra, D. (2024). Exploring the landscape of biofertilizers containing plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria in Iran: Progress and research prospects. Current Research in Microbial Sciences, 7, 100268.
Li, Y., Narayanan, M., Shi, X., Chen, X., Li, Z., & Ma, Y. (2024). Biofilms formation in plant growth-promoting bacteria for alleviating agro-environmental stress. Science of the Total Environment, 907, 167774.
Ma, Y., Dias, M. C., & Freitas, H. (2020). Drought and salinity stress responses and microbe-induced tolerance in plants. Frontiers in Plant Science, 11, 591911.
Mahmood, A., Turgay, O. C., Farooq, M., & Hayat, R. (2016). Seed biopriming with plant growth promoting rhizobacteria: a review. FEMS Microbiology Ecology, 92(8), fiw112.
Manzoor, A., Naveed, M. S., Ali, R. M. A., Naseer, M. A., Ul-Hussan, M., Saqib, M., Hussain, S., & Farooq, M. (2024). Vermicompost: A potential organic fertilizer for sustainable vegetable cultivation. Scientia Horticulturae, 336, 113443.
Mariyam, S., Bhardwaj, R., Khan, N.A., Sahi, S.V., & Seth, C.S. )2023(. Review on nitric oxide at the forefront of rapid systemic signaling in mitigation of salinity stress in plants: Crosstalk with calcium and hydrogen peroxide. Plant Science, 336, 111835.
McDonald, M.B. )2000(. Seed priming. In: Black, M., and Bewley, J.D. (Eds). Seed Technology and its. Biologocal Basis. Sheffield, EN: Academic Press, 287-325.
Mehta, B. K., Pandit, V., & Gupta, M. (2009). New principles from seeds of Nigella sativa. Natural Product Research, 23(2), 138-148.
Miljaković, D., Marinković, J., & Balešević-Tubić, S. (2020). The significance of Bacillus spp. in disease suppression and growth promotion of field and vegetable crops. Microorganisms, 8(7), 1037.
Mitra, D., Mondal, R., Khoshru, B., Shadangi, S., Mohapatra, P. K. D., & Panneerselvam, P. (2021). Rhizobacteria mediated seed bio-priming triggers the resistance and plant growth for sustainable crop production. Current Research in Microbial Sciences, 2, 100071.
Muhammad, M., Waheed, A., Wahab, A., Majeed, M., Nazim, M., Liu, Y. H., Li, L., & Li, W. J. (2024). Soil salinity and drought tolerance: An evaluation of plant growth, productivity, microbial diversity, and amelioration strategies. Plant Stress, 11, 100319.
Patel, K. F., Fansler, S. J., Campbell, T. P., Bond-Lamberty, B., Smith, A. P., Roy-Chowdhury, T., Mc-Cue, L. A., Varga, T., & Bailey, V. L. (2021). Soil texture and environmental conditions influence the biogeochemical responses of soils to drought and flooding. Communications Earth & Environment, 2(1), 127.
Pepe, A., Giovannetti, M., & Sbrana, C. (2018). Lifespan and functionality of mycorrhizal fungal mycelium are uncoupled from host plant lifespan. Scientific Reports, 8(1), 10235.
Ramadan, M. F., & Mörsel, J. T. (2003). Analysis of glycolipids from black cumin (Nigella sativa L.), coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) and niger (Guizotia abyssinica Cass.) oilseeds. Food Chemistry, 80(2), 197–204.
Rehman, S. U., De Castro, F., Aprile, A., Benedetti, M., & Fanizzi, F. P. (2023). Vermicompost: Enhancing plant growth and combating abiotic and biotic stress. Agronomy, 13(4), 1134.
Riaz, M., Syed, M., & Chaudhary, F. M. (1996). Chemistry of the medicinal plants of the genus Nigella. Hamdard Medicus, 39(3), 40-45.
Santoyo, G., Gamalero, E., & Glick, B. R. (2021). Mycorrhizal-bacterial amelioration of plant abiotic and biotic stress. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 5, 672881.
Sarkar, D., Rakshit, A., Al-Turki, A., Sayyed, R. Z., & Datta, R. (2021). Connecting Bio-Priming Approach with Integrated Nutrient Management for Improved Nutrient Use Efficiency in Crop Species. Agriculture, 11(4), 372.
Sarkar, D., Sankar, A., Siva Devika, O., Singh, S., Parihar, M., Rakshit, A., Sayyed, R. Z., Gafur, A., Ansari, M. J., Danish, S., Fahad, S., & Datta, R. (2021). Optimizing nutrient use efficiency, productivity, energetics, and economics of red cabbage following mineral fertilization and biopriming with compatible rhizosphere microbes. Scientific Reports, 11, 15680.
Shah, S., & Kasturi, S. R. (2003). Study on antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of black cumin (Nigella sativa L.). Journal of Food Science and Technology, 40(1), 70-73.
Sharipova, M., Rudakova, N., Mardanova, A., Evtugyn, V., Akosah, Y., Danilova, I., & Suleimanova, A. (2023). Biofilm formation by mutant strains of bacilli under different stress conditions. Microorganisms, 11(6), 1486.
Tamartash, R., Shokrian, F., & Kargar, M. (2010). Effects of salinity and drought stress on Trifolium alexanderium L. seed germination properties. Journal of Rangeland Science, 4(2), 288-297.
Toselli, M. E., & Casenave, E. C. (2003). Water content and the effectiveness of hydro and osmotic priming of cotton seeds. Seed Science and Technology, 31(3), 727-735.
Vandelook, F., Van de Vyver, A., & Soltani, E. (2024). Intra-specific variation in relative embryo length and germination of wild Daucus carota across climate gradients in North America and Europe. Seed Science Research, 34(4), 207-217.
Védère, C., Lebrun, M., Honvault, N., Aubertin, M. L., Girardin, C., Garnier, P., Dignac, M. F., Houben, D., & Rumpel, C. (2022). How does soil water status influence the fate of soil organic matter? A review of processes across scales. Earth-Science Reviews, 234, 104214.
Wahab, A., Bibi, H., Batool, F., Muhammad, M., Ullah, S., Zaman, W., & Abdi, G. (2024). Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria biochemical pathways and their environmental impact: a review of sustainable farming practices. Plant Growth Regulation, 104(2), 637-662.
Wani, S.H., Kumar, V., Shriram, V., & Sah, S.K. (2016). Phytohormones and their metabolic engineering for abiotic stress tolerance in crop plants. Crop Journal, 4(3), 162-176.
Wojciechowski, A., Seassau, C., Alletto, L., & Lamichhane, J.R. (2026). Seedling emergence vigor, establishment success, and biomass yield stability of cover crop mixtures compared to pure stands. Field Crops Research, 335, 110165.
Wong, W. S., Zhong, H. T., Cross, A. T., & Yong, J. W. H. (2020). Plant biostimulants in vermicomposts: Characteristics and plausible mechanisms. The Chemical Biology of Plant Biostimulants, 155-180.
Zandonadi, D. B., & Busato, J. G. (2012). Vermicompost humic substances: technology for converting pollution into plant growth regulators. International Journal of Environmental Science and Engineering Research, 3(2), 73-84.
Zhu, B., Gao, T., Zhang, D., Ding, K., Li, C., & Ma, F. (2022). Functions of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in horticultural crops. Scientia Horticulturae, 303, 111219.
Zulfiqar, F. (2021). Effect of seed priming on horticultural crops. Scientia Horticulturae, 286, 110197.
 
 
Journal of Crops Improvement
Volume 28, Issue 3
Summer 2026
Pages 355-374