Evaluation of Biomass Production and Some Quality Characteristics of Fennel in Different Fertilizing Systems

To study the effect of different fertilizing systems on yield and quality characteristics of fennel Biomass, an experimental was conducted at College of Agriculture, Shahed University in 2011. The experimental design was split plot on the basis of randomized complete block design with three replications. The main factor comprised of levels of fertilizer application viz. control (no fertilizer application), Bio-fertilizer (Azospirillum/Azotobacter, biophospherous fertilizer), 3. Integrated fertilizer (bio fertilizers+ 50% chemical fertilizer), and 4. Chemical fertilizer (triple super phosphate based on the soil analysis). The sub plots allocated to levels of number of cuttings (harvests) consisted of first, second, third and fourth cuttings. Results showed that the effect of fertilizer, cutting and interaction between them on measured traits was significant. The maximum fennel height, branch number per plant, dry weight and essential oil yield was obtained by applying integrated fertilizer in the first cutting. Maximum leaf/stem ratio was obtained from control treatment in the fourth cutting. The highest percentage of essential oil was obtained by applying integrated fertilizer in second cutting. According to the results, the use of integrated fertilizers can provide the highest quality food that reflects the desired effect of positive integrated fertilizer in production of medicinal forage of the environmental aspects.