Effect of integrated nutrient management on seed quality of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare mill.)

Abstract

The field experiment was conducted during Rabi season of 2016-17 and 2017-18 at Research Farm of Department of Vegetable Science, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar. It comprised of sixteen treatment levels of fertilizer in randomized block design with three replications. Seed quality parameters of fennel crop were significantly affected by the organic and inorganic fertilizer treatments. Maximum test weight (9.11g), seed density (1.58 g/cc), standard germination (91.43%), seedling length (22.42cm), seedling dry weight (4.06g), vigour index- I & II (2053&317.6), accelerated ageing at 120 h (27.17), enzyme activity DHA & SOD (1.232 & 0.930), field emergence index (8.14) and seedling establishment (81.67) were found significantly highest in treatment T9: (100%) RDN through vermicopost + Azotobacter + PSB. The lowest value found in treatment T16: control (7.33, 1.14, 75.12, 15.75, 2.60, 1184, 222.2, 18.33, 1.127, 0.703, 6.43 and 66.67). The least electrical conductivity of 118.79 mS cm-1 g-1 was observed under T9: 100% RDN through vermicompost + Azotobacter + PSB which was significantly lower than all their treatment. Under control condition were no chemical, organic and biofertilizer were applied, the electrical conductivity of the seeds was highest (167.31) mS cm-1 g-1.