Effect of nitrogen and sulphur levels on yield attributes, yield and quality of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted on fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) during Rabi season of 2016-17 at the College of Agriculture, Junagadh Agricultural University, and Junagadh on medium black clayey soil. The treatments comprised all possible combinations of four levels of nitrogen viz., 0, 60, 90 and 120 kg ha-1 and three levels of sulphur viz., 0, 20 and 40 kg ha-1 were evaluated in FRBD with three replications. Application of 120 kg nitrogen ha-1 was observed superior over rest of the levels of N in increasing plant height, number of branches per plant, number of umbels per plant, number of umbellate per umbel, number of seeds per umbellates, weight of 1000 seed, protein content, seed yield and stover yield. Application of 40 kg sulphur ha-1 significantly increased plant height, number of branches per plant, number of umbels per plant, number of umbellates per umbel, number of seeds per umbellates, weight of 1000 seed, seed yield and stover yield. While, protein content in seed did not influenced by S application. Interaction effect of nitrogen and sulphur was found significant with respect to umbellates per umbel, seed yield and stover yield. Combined application of 90 kg N ha-1 along with 40 kg S ha-1 recorded significantly higher number of umbellates per umbel, seed yield and stover yield than rest of the treatment combination.