Effect of mycorrhiza, vermicompost and phosphate biofertilizer application on flowering, biological yield and root colonization in fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.)

In order to study the effect of biofertilizers on flowering, biological yield and root colonization in fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.), an experiment was conducted in 2005 and 2006 growing seasons. The factors were mycorrhizal inoculation (inoculated and non-inoculated), phosphate biofertilizer (0, 30, 60 Kg/ha) and vermicompost (0, 5, 10 Ton/ha). The treatments were arranged as factorial in a randomized complete blocks design with eighteen treatments and three replications. These treatments together with a chemical fertilizer control treatment (NPK: 90, 60 and 90 Kg/ha) were also evaluated using a randomized complete blocks design with nineteen treatments and three replications. Results showed that the highest umbrella no./plant, biological yield and root colonization percent were obtained with mycorrhiza treatment. Phosphate biofertilizer also showed significant effect on these traits. The maximum umbrella no./plant and root colonization percent were related to the plots with application of 60 Kg/ha of phosphate biofertilizer. The highest biological yield were obtained with application of 30 Kg/ha phosphate biofertilizer. The maximum umbrella no./plant and biological yield were obtained from vermicompost (10 ton/ha). The highest root colonization percent were also obtained with application of five ton/ha vermicompost. There were positive and synergistic interactions between factors. For example, intractions between mycorrhizal inoculation × vermicompost on biological yield. Differences between control and biofertilizer treatments were significant, as umbrella no./plant and biological yield in treatment of inoculation with mycorrhiza, application of 60 kg/ha phosphate biofertilizer and 10 ton/ha vermicompost were higher than control. Root colonization percent in treatment of inoculation with mycorrhiza, application of 60 Kg/ha phosphate biofertilizer and five ton/ha vermicompost was also greater than control.