Aims: This study aims to investigate the individual and combined effects of the umbel picking stage, manure application, and nitrogen fertilization on the growth, yield attributes, and overall yield of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.).
Study design: Randomized Block Design (Factorial).
Place and Duration of Study: The experiment was conducted at the College Agronomy Farm, B. A. College of Agriculture, Anand Agriculture University, situated in Anand, Gujarat, India. The research was carried out over multiple Rabi seasons, spanning the years 2014-15 and 2015-16.
Methodology: The experiment was conducted following a Randomized Block Design (Factorial) with three replications, involving twenty-seven treatment combinations applied to the fennel crop. These treatments included three stages of umbel picking (Pre-mature, mature, and over-mature), three types of manures (Control, 10 t FYM/ha, and 2.5 t vermicompost/ha), and three levels of nitrogen application (00 kg N/ha, 45 kg N/ha, and 90 kg N/ha). The randomization of treatments was consistently maintained across the seasons to ensure the validity of the experimental results. The research methodology involved assessing the initial and final plant population, measuring plant height at various stages, and recording yield attributes such as a number of umbels, umbellates, and seeds per umbellate. Seed and stover yields were determined per net plot and converted to kilograms per hectare. Additionally, the harvest index was calculated to evaluate crop efficiency.
Results: The study found that different umbel picking stages, manure treatments, and nitrogen levels did not significantly affect the plant population. Umbel picking stages had no impact on fennel yield attributes, but 2.5 t vermicompost/ha significantly improved them. Nitrogen fertilization at 90 kg N/ha showed the best results, with similar outcomes for 45 kg/ha N. Combining vermicompost with 90 kg N/ha was particularly effective. Mature and over-mature umbel picking stages increased seed and stover yields significantly. Vermicompost at 2.5 t/ha and FYM at 10 t/ha boosted yields compared to no application. Nitrogen at 90 kg/ha matched 45 kg/ha in yield improvement. Combining mature stage picking with 2.5 t vermicompost/ha yielded the highest seed yield, while 2.5 t vermicompost/ha with 90 kg N/ha resulted in the highest overall yields.
Conclusion: Umbel picking at the mature stage, combined with the application of 2.5 t vermicompost/ha and 90 kg N/ha, exhibited significantly higher growth, yield attributes, seed yield, stover yield, and harvest index compared to other treatments.
