Niger seed, scientifically known as Guizotia abyssinica, is an erect, annual dicotyledonous plant characterized by its yellow flowers that produce shiny black seeds. Niger seed oil is obtained from the seeds of niger plant, which belongs to the Asteraceae family and of the Guizotia genus. Native to Ethiopia, Eritrea and Malawi, niger seeds are also grown in India.
Niger seeds resemble sunflower seeds in shape, but are smaller in size and black. It bears a fairly thick, adherent seed coat and can be stored for up to a year without deterioration. Niger seed contains proteins, oil and soluble sugars. Niger seeds are used as bird feed world wide.
Niger seed plant (Guizotia abyssinica)
Cultivation of Niger Seed
Guizotia abyssinica is an erect, stout, branched annual herb, grown for its edible oil and seed. Its cultivation originated in the Eritrean and Ethiopian highlands, and has spread to other parts of Ethiopia.
Environmental Conditions for Production
Ethiopian niger is reportedly grown mainly in mid-altitude and high areas (1,600-2,200 m or 5,249 - 7,218 ft. elevation) but also in lower elevations with enough rainfall. Requiring moderate rainfall between 1,000 to 1,250 millimetres (39 to 49 in) annually, niger seed needs moist soil to grow properly.
Read also: Uses of Niger Seed
Seasons of Production
Requiring short day-length for flowering, niger is best planted during the period of decreasing day-length in the higher latitudes of the tropics and sub-tropics. Thriving on minimal soil moisture once the root system has been established, in monsoonal Asia, niger can be ideally be planted from August through early October before the rains end.
Soil Requirements
In Ethiopia, niger is valued for its ability to thrive on waterlogged soils where other crops fail. Niger should be grown in light black soils or brownish loam with sufficient depth but it also can be grown on well drained heavy soils or rocky laterite soils. It can grow in semi-shade or full sun. It is usually grown on "light poor soils with coarse texture" - basically on almost any soil that is not extremely heavy.
Niger is often cultivated on very poor acid soils, on hilly slopes, where fertility is low due to leaching and washing away of the plant nutrients by erosion. The plant is adapted to a wide range of soils, from sandy to heavy, growth being poor on light sandy or gravelly soils. Niger seed is reported to tolerate an annual precipitation of 66 to 179cm, an annual temperature range of 13.6 to 27.5°C and a pH in the range of 5.5 to 7.5.
Plant Spacing
In the uplands of Myanmar and Thailand, establishment of the niger seed crop is done by simple hand sowing. Seeding rates in the region reportedly vary between 2 and 10 liters of seed per rai or roughly 7.6 to 38 kg/ha (6.8 to 33.9 lb/acre).
Harvesting and Seed Production
Niger seed is ready for harvest soon after the petals of the yellow flowers begin to wither and fall from the heads (approximately three months after planting). Following drying, farmers thresh the seeds by grasping the stalks and beating the seed heads on a wooden platform placed over a canvas in the field. Afterward, the shiny, black seeds are cleaned and stored.
Read also: Ultimate Guide: Niger Seed and Birds
Pests and Diseases
Except for rats, no other niger seed pests have been reported in northern Thailand. Getinet and Sharma (1996) report that a total of 24 insects have been recorded on niger in both Ethiopia and India.
Uses of Niger Seed
Niger seeds contain around 40 % oil and about 20 % protein. Niger oil has a fatty acid composition typical for other Compositae family oils, such as safflower and sunflower. Fortunately,oil produced by crops in the Compositae family is considered to be among the healthier selections.
Crop Uses (Culinary)
Niger seeds contain around 40% oil and about 20% protein. The edible oil is the main product from Niger seed in both Ethiopia and India and has a nutty taste. The seeds yield about 30% of a clear, excellent, slow-drying edible oil. It is used as a substitute for olive oil, can be mixed with linseed oil, and is used as an adulterant for rape oil, sesame oil etc. The oil is used in cooking as a ghee substitute and can be used in salad dressings etc. Described as having a ¡°nutty taste and a pleasant odour,¡± the edible oil is the main product from Niger seed in both Ethiopia and India.
In Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, niger seeds (called valisalu/valasulu in Telugu, uchellu/gurellu in Kannada, and karale in Marathi) are used to make a dry chutney, which is used as an accompaniment with breads such as chapati. They are also used as a spice in some curries.
Crop Uses (Soil Improvement)
Following the seed harvest, niger crop residues are left behind in fields. The dried stalks may be used to mulch fruit trees or merely spread out to decompose over the soil surface, serving as a source of organic matter. The plant can be used as a green manure.
Read also: Nutritional Value of Nyjer Seed
Crop Uses (Livestock Production)
Following oil extraction, the seed cake can be stored and used as an animal feed supplement. Niger seed meal is reported to be free from any toxic substance and contains more crude fiber than most oilseed meals. The by-product also contains 30% protein and 23% crude protein. The black oilcake is comparable in feeding value to undecorticated groundnut cake. Up to 30% can be added to laying poultry rations.
The onion nursery (Summary)
Other Uses
After cooking oil needs are met, the niger seed surplus in many countries is exported for bird food, mainly to the United States and Europe. Niger oil is also used for lighting, anointing, painting and cleaning of machinery. A drying oil is obtained from the seed. It is used for burning, in making soap, paints etc.
Medicinal Uses
The oil from the seeds is used in the treatment of rheumatism. It is also applied to treat burns.
Yields
Average seed yields in India range from 100 - 200 kg/ha when grown with ragi, and 300 - 400 kg/ha when grown in pure stands. In Kenya, monocultural yields average 600 kg/ha. Seed yields of 1,000 to 1,200 kg/ha have been obtained on fertile Himalayan soils. Oil yields range about 235 kg/ha.
The yield of seeds will average 300-400 kilograms per hectare (270-360 lb/acre) under favorable conditions but can produce up to 600 kilograms per hectare (540 lb/acre).
| Region/Country | Yield (kg/ha) | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| India (with ragi) | 100-200 | Intercropped |
| India (pure stand) | 300-400 | Monoculture |
| Kenya | 600 | Monoculture |
| Himalayan soils | 1000-1200 | Fertile soils |
| Average conditions | 300-400 | - |
| Favorable conditions | Up to 600 | - |
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