Effect of Planting Methods, Mulches and Drip Irrigation Scheduling on Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.)
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Date
2024-01-30
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Agriculture University, Jodhpur
Abstract
A field investigation was undertaken to study the effect of planting methods, mulches and drip irrigation scheduling on fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) at Instructional Farm of College of Agriculture, Agriculture University, Jodhpur during the Rabi seasons of 2020-21 and 2021-22. The field experiment was comprised of four levels of drip irrigation (1.0, 0.8, 0.6 and 0.4 PEF) in main plots, two planting
methods (Direct sowing and Transplanting) in sub plots and three mulches (No
mulch, Straw mulch and Plastic mulch) in sub-sub plots. The trial was laid out in split
plot design with three replications and 24 treatment combinations.
The results revealed that progressive increase in levels of drip irrigation from
0.4 to 1.0 PEF significantly improved growth parameters, yield attributes and yield,
N, P and K absorption by the crop. Plant height, dry matter accumulation, total
chlorophyll content and relative water content at 70, 105 DAS and at harvest, number
of branches/plant at 70 DAS and at harvest were significantly higher with drip
irrigation at 1.0 PEF on pooled basis. However, significantly higher root growth
parameters viz. root length, root volume and root dry matter were recorded with drip
irrigation at 0.6 PEF in both the seasons as well as on pooled basis. Drip irrigation
applied at 1.0 PEF produced seed yield of 2482 kg/ha, which was significantly higher
by 13.23, 32.09 and 79.85 percent over 0.8 (2192 kg/ha), 0.6 (1879 kg/ha) and 0.4
PEF (1380 kg/ha), respectively. The volatile oil yield (34.84 kg/ha) and protein yield
(252.23 kg/ha) were significantly higher at this level of drip irrigation compared to its lower levels. The gross monetary returns (2,62,013 ₹/ha), net monetary returns
(1,96,058 ₹/ha) and benefit cost ratio (3.99) were also highest under this treatment.
The maximum consumptive use of water (590.1 mm) was computed with highest drip
irrigation volume (1.0 PEF), whereas water use efficiency (5.24 kg/m3
) and water
productivity (557.32 ₹/m3
) was maximum with lowest level of drip irrigation (0.4
PEF).
Further, transplanting method consistently outperformed direct sowing
resulting to enhanced growth parameters viz. plant height, dry matter accumulation,
total chlorophyll content, root volume and root dry matter at 35, 70, 105 DAS and
number of branches/plant at 70 DAS and at harvest and yield attributes viz. number of
umbels/plant (16.0), number of umbellets/umbel (14.1), number of seeds/umbellet
(18.3), number of seeds/plant (4177), test weight (7.20 g), seed yield/plant (26.15
g/plant) and seed yield (2141 kg/ha), stalk yield (4954 kg/ha) and biological yield
(7095 kg/ha) on pooled basis. Additionally, N, P and K absorption as well as their
uptakes by crops, volatile oil content (1.60 percent) and its yield (33.62 kg/ha),
protein content (9.34 percent) and respective yield (204.58 kg/ha) were also
significantly higher with transplanting method compared to direct sowing. In terms of
economic returns, transplanting gave maximum gross monetary returns (2,25,778
₹/ha), net monetary returns (1,58,294 ₹/ha) and benefit cost ratio (3.35). Moreover,
consumptive use of water was not significantly varied due to planting methods.
However, maximum water use efficiency (5.00 kg/m3
) and water productivity (529.89
₹/ha) were highest under transplanting method.
Among mulches, straw and plastic mulches recorded significantly higher
growth and yield attributes over no mulch in both the seasons. However, the use of
straw mulch recorded significantly improved growth attributes, yield attributes and
yield, NPK content and their uptake by fennel, volatile oil yield and protein yield
compared to plastic mulch and no mulch in both the seasons of experimentation. The
significantly higher seed yield (2233 kg/ha), stalk yield (5216 kg/ha), biological yield (7449 kg/ha), volatile oil content (1.59 percent) and yield (34.98 kg/ha), protein
content (9.35 percent) and protein yield (213.01 kg/ha) were recorded with the
application of straw mulch. The maximum consumptive use of water was computed
under no mulch (451.5 mm). Whereas, maximum water use efficiency (5.16 kg/m3
)
and water productivity (542.70 ₹/m3
) were calculated with the use of straw mulch.
Further, the highest gross monetary returns (2,35,790 ₹/ha), net monetary returns
(2,07,060 ₹/ha) and benefit cost ratio (3.65) were recorded with straw mulch.
The interaction effect between levels of drip irrigation and planting methods,
levels of drip irrigation and mulches, planting methods and mulches were found
significant in both the seasons as well as on pooled basis. Drip irrigation at 1.0 PEF
superimposed with transplanting recorded significantly higher plant height and dry
matter accumulation at 105 DAS and harvest, yield attributes viz. number of
umbels/plant (19.7), number of umbellets/umbel (17.0), number of seeds/umbellet
(20.8), number of seeds/plant (5429), seed yield/plant (31.20 g/plant) and seed yield
(2685 kg/ha), stalk yield (5776 kg/ha), biological yield (8461 kg/ha), volatile oil yield
(38.29 kg/ha), protein yield (278.31 kg/ha) over rest of the combination. NPK uptakes
by seed (44.59, 14.24 and 8.92 kg/ha) and stalk (47.02, 12.12 and 86.45 kg/ha) of
fennel, respectively were also significantly enhanced with this combination.
Among the interaction between the combination of levels of drip irrigation and
mulches, drip irrigation at 1.0 PEF and straw mulch recorded significantly higher
yield attributes viz. number of umbels/plant (19.0), number of umbellets/umbel
(16.8), number of seeds/umbellet (19.7), number of seeds/plant (5133), seed
yield/plant (33.22 g/plant) and seed yield (2796 kg/ha), stalk yield (6123 kg/ha) and
biological yield (8919 kg/ha). This combination also enhanced volatile oil yield
(40.18 kg/ha) and protein yield (290.41 kg/ha) as well as NPK uptake by seed (46.47,
15.06 and 9.29 kg/ha) and stalk (50.42, 13.09 and 91.79 kg/ha) of fennel, respectively.
Likewise, when transplanting combined with straw mulch, it also significantly
improved seed yield (2348 kg/ha), stalk yield (5338 kg/ha), biological yield (7687kg/ha). Moreover, volatile oil yield (37.34 kg/ha), protein yield (228.11 kg/ha) and
uptake of NPK by crop were also significantly higher with this combination over rest
of the treatment combinations.
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Citation
Kumar Sunil 2024. Effect of Planting Methods, Mulches and Drip Irrigation Scheduling on Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.). Ph.D. Thesis, College of Agriculture, Agriculture University, Jodhpur.