The effects of mycorrhiza, vermicompost and phosphatic biofertilizer application on quantity and quality of essential oil in Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.)

In order to study the effects of biofertilizers on quantity and quality of essential oil in fennel containing essential oil content and anethole content, fenchone content and limonene content in essential oil, an experiment was conducted at Hamand Research station in Damavand in 2005 and 2006. The factors were mycorrhizal inoculation (inoculated and non-inoculated), phosphatic biofertilizer (0, 30, 60 kg/ha) and vermicompost (0, 5, 10 ton/ha). The experiment design was factorial experiment in the base of randomized complete blocks design with eighteen treatments and three replications. In addition, one plot was allocated to control in each replication and only chemical fertilizers (NPK: 90, 60 and 90 kg/ha) were used. Data obtained from control plots were used for comparing other plots. Mean comparison was carried out using Duncan multiple range test (at 5% level). Results showed that the highest essential oil content in seed and anethole content in essential oil and the lowest fenchone content and limonene content in essential oil were obtained with mycorrhiza treatment. Phosphatic biofertilizer also showed significant effects on essential oil content and anethole and limonene contents in essential oil (except fenchone content). The maximum essential oil content in seed and anethole content in essential oil were related to the plots with consumption of 60 kg/ha. The lowest limonene content in essential oil was obtained with consumption of 30 kg/ha phosphatic biofertilizer. The highest essential oil content in seed and anethole content in essential oil and minimum fenchone content and limonene content in essential oil were obtained with consumption of 10 ton/ha vermicompost. Comparison of control versus biofertilizer treatments was significant, as two biofertilizer treatments include inoculation with mycorrhiza, application of 30 kg/ha phosphatic biofertilizer and 10 ton/ha vermicompost and inoculation with mycorrhiza and application of 60 kg/ha phosphatic biofertilizer and 10 ton/ha vermicompost in relation to quantity and quality of essential oil were better than control.