Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
Department of Agronomy and plant breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz Branch, Tabriz, Iran
Abstract
In order to achieve the best irrigation and nitrogen fertilizing management in fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.), a split factorial arrangement in a randomized complete block design was conducted on Isfahan local variety under semi-arid conditions, in Tabriz during 2008. Three factors included irrigation time (90, 120, 150 mm evaporation from pan) as main plot and combination of urea dose (100, 150, 200 kgha-1) and split application of urea (100% at planting time, 50%: 50% at planting and stem elongation times, respectively, 25%: 50%: 25% at planting, stem elongation and flowering times, respectively) were applied as sub plot. The results indicated that with delaying in irrigation time from 90 to 120 mm evaporation from pan, the number of umbels per plant of fennel decreased up to 22.5%. The highest seed yield and essence percentage (880 kgha-1 and 3.66%, respectively) obtained from treatment with 150 kgha-1 urea application and irrigation of 150 mm evaporation from pan. Equally split application of urea at planting and stem elongation times could improve seed yield of fennel up to 17%, as compared with two other urea splitting levels. Seed essence percentage was not affected by split application of urea. Effect of three studied factors on essence yield was significant. When fennel plants were fertilized with 150 kgha-1 urea and irrigated after 120 mm evaporation from pan, seed essence yield was the highest (32 Lha-1), and this increase was 43% compared with the lowest essence yield treatment. According to the results, irrigation time of 120 mm evaporation from pan and applying 150 kgha-1 urea in two splits at planting and stem elongation times are recommended for fennel production.
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