The Effect of biofertilizers on Quantitative and Qualitative Characteristics of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare L.) with alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) in additive intercropping

To study the effect of different fertilization and cultivation systems on Quantitative and Qualitative Characteristics of fennel with alfalfa in additive intercropping, an experiment 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 plots were allocated to four different fertilizer levels viz. 1. Control (no fertilizer), 2. Bio-fertilizer (Azospirillum/Azotobacter, biophospherous fertilizer), 3. Integrated fertilizer (bio fertilizers 50% chemical fertilizer), 4. Chemical fertilizer (triple super phosphate and Urea based on the soil analysis). The subplots were allocated to different combinations of alfalfa and fennel intercroppings consisted of 1. Sole alfalfa, 2. Sole fennel, 3. 100% alfalfa 50% fennel, 4. 100% alfalfa 100% fennel. Results showed that the interaction of fertilizer and intercropping, The highest biological yield of fennel was obtained in Sole fennel with received integrated fertilizer and plant height, number of multiple umbel and the number of nodes of stem was obtained cultivation intercropping with bio-integrated fertilizer. The interaction of different fertilization systems and Cutting, maximum biological yield and plant height of fennel was obtained with integrated fertilizer in first cutting. The interaction of different culture systems and Cutting, on the studied traits was significant. The interaction of fertilizer and intercropping, the lowest percentage composition of essential oils was obtained in alfalfa 50% fennel with received integrated fertilizer. The present results indicate a positive effect on the use of bio and integrated fertilizers with alfalfa and fennel in additive intercropping, is the environmental aspect.