Fertilisation is the main factor stimulating yields of herbaceous plants, including yields of active substances per area unit.The  aim  of  the  research  was  to  evaluate the  yielding  and  chemical composition of fruits of  cv.  Koñczewicki  caraway  grown  in  a  pure  stand and supplied different  rates of mineral fertilizer. The  results are  derived  from  a controlled,  one-factor, micro-plot experi- ment set up with four replications in a split-plot design. The experimental factor consisted of  NPK  mineral  fertilisation  introduced  into  soil  at  the  following  rates  per  hectare: A0 – without mineral fertilisation, A1  – 103.9 kg NPK (37.5 kg N+17.6 kg P+4 8.8 kg K), A2 – 209.8 kg NPK (75 kg N+35.2 kg P+ 99.6 kg K), A3 – 314.7 kg NPK (112.5 kg N+52.8 kg P+ 149.4 kg K). Mineral fertilisation in the control increased the caraway fruit yield, the yield of essential oil as well as the content of total nitrogen. The rates of 209.8 kg NPK ha–1 and 314.7 kg NPK ha–1  caused a distinct decrease in the content of essential oil in cara- way  fruits  compared  with  the  unfertilized  treatment  and  with  the  fertilisation  rate of 103.9 kg NPK ha–1. Mineral fertilisation, in general, significantly decreased the content of total phosphorus, calcium, magnesium and sodium, although it did not differentiate substantially the content of potassium in caraway fruits.

18.2.2013