Influence of organic manures alone or in combination with inorganic fertilizer on productivity of winter drilled fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59797/ija.v48i3.3086Keywords:
Fennel, Castor cake, Mustard cake, FYMAbstract
Effect of organic manures [castor cake, mustard cake and farmyard manure (FYM)] alone or in combination with inorganic fertilizers was studied during 1997 98 to 1999 2000 on yield, quality and economics of winter fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) at Main Spices Research Station, Jagudan. Maximum seed yield and its attributes were obtained when recommended fertilizer dose applied through inorganic fertilizer. Different organic manures (castor cake, mustard cake and FYM) were equally effective and gave significantly lower seed yield than that with inor ganic fertilizer. Application of different organic manures alone or mix with inorganic fertilizers significantly improved the oil content of fennel (1.56 to 1.64%). The highest net profit (Rslha 70,139) and benefit : cost ratio (4.13) were obtained when recommended dose of fertilizer applied in the form of chemical fertilizers. However, on the basis of premium price of organic product, recommended fertilizer dose applied through FYM alone recorded the maximum net realization 90,393 (Rslha) and benefit : cost ratio (1 : 5.14).References
Influence of organic manures alone or in combination with inorganic fertilizer on
productivity of winter drilled fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)
B.S. PATEL, A.U. AMIN, K.P. PATEL AND M.M. PmEL
Main Spices Research Station: Gujarat Agricultural University, J~gudaiz 382 710
Received :September 2002
Effect of organic manures [castor cake, mustard cake and farmyard manure (FYM)] alone or in combination with inorganic fertilizers was studied during 1997-98 to 1999-2000 on yield, quality and economics of winter fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) at Main Spices Research Station, Jagudan. Maximum seed yield and its attributes were obtained when recommended fertilizer dose applied through inorganic fertilizer. Different organic manures (castor cake, mustard cake and FYM) were equally effective and gave significantly lower seed yield than that with inor- ganic fertilizer. Application of different organic manures alone or mix with inorganic fertilizers significantly improved the oil content of fennel (1.56 to 1.64%). The highest net profit (Rslha 70,139) and benefit :cost ratio (4.13) were obtained when recommended dose of fertilizer applied in the form of chemical fertilizers. However, on the basis of premium price of organic product, recommended fertilizer dose applied through FYM alone recorded the maximum net realization 90,393 (Rslha) and benefit :cost ratio (1 :5.14).
Key words :Fennel, Castor cake, Mustard cake, FYM
Fennel is an important seed spice crop grown as rainy- season, transplanted or winter drilled crop under North Gujarat and Rajasthan conditions where light-textured soils are poor in fertility. Green seeds with uniform size and free from chemical residues, bioagents or physical impurities are preferred by customer and have high de- mand in national as well as international market with pre- mium price. Among the various factors contributing to- wards the attainment of potential yield with good quality, fertilizer management has considerable practical impor- tance. Unjudicious use of chemical fertilizers not only harms the soil health but also increases the cost of produc- tion. In view of the escalating prices and high demand- supply gap of chemical fertilizers, there is a strong need to adopt integrated nutrient supply system to improve soil health and quality production. Therefore present study was taken ~o develop a suitable nutrient-management practice for fennel crop based on organic farming.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The field experiment was conducted at Main Spices Research Station, Jagudan, during winter season of 1997- 98 to 1999-2000 in randomized block design, having 4 replications. There were 8 treatments (Table l), compris- ing 3 organic sources [castor cake, mustard cake and farm- yard manure (FYM)] alone or in conjunction with inor- ganic fertilizer and inorganic fertility only. The soil was sandy loam with slightly alkaline in soil reaction (8.1 pH), low in organic carbon (0.23%), medium in available P,O, (35 kglha) and rich in available potassium (415 kglha). The recommended fertilizer dose, i.e. 90 + 45 kg N+Pha applied as per treatments except F, whcre only nitrogen applied through chemical fertilizer. 'Gujarat Fennel 1' was sown during the fourth week of October, keeping 45 cm inter-row spacing with uniform seed rate of 5 kgha, while crop was harvested at the end of March. Intra-row spacing of 15 cm was maintained by thinning operation. Recom- mended cultural practices were also adopted as per need of crop.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Yield-attributing characters
Most of yield-attributing characters of the fennel, viz. brancheslplant, umbellateslun~bel as well as seeds1 umbellates and test weight, were equally effective when recommended fertilizer dose applied in form of various organic sources (caster cake, mustard cake and FYM) alone or in combination with inorganic fertilizer at the ra- tio of 1 :1 (Table 1). Application of organic manures with inorganic fertilizers and inorganic fertilizer (only nitrogen) were statistically most similar but recorded significantly higher umbelslplant compared to organic sources alone. Crop fertilized with nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers (F,) recorded the maximum yield attributes and signifi-
September 20031
