Effect of Phosphorus and Zinc with and without Vermicompost on Yield and Nutrient uptake of Fennel Crop (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.)

Abstract

two year experiment was conducted to find out the effect of vermicompost, phosphorus and zinc on yield and nutrient uptake of fennel. Application of 2 t vermicompost ha-1 significantly increased the seed, stover yields and phosphorus and zinc uptake of seed and stover. Application of 40 kg P2O5 ha-1 had 43.16 and 25.89% higher seed and stover yield, respectively over control. Phosphorus uptake in seed and stover and zinc uptake in seed and stover increased significantly up to 40 kg P2O5 ha-1. Application of 6.0 kg Zn ha-1 significantly increased seed and stover yield and phosphorus uptake in seed. Zinc uptake by seed and stover increased significantly up to 9.0 kg Zn ha-1. Combined application of 2 t vermicompost ha-1 and 40 kg P2O5 ha-1 resulted in the highest seed (1377 kg ha-1) yield and was found significant for phosphorus and zinc uptake by seed. The interaction effect of treatment combination 2 t vermicompost + 6 kg Zn ha-1 was found significant for phosphorus uptake by seed. However, in zinc uptake by seed the treatment combination 2 t vermicompost + 9 kg Zn ha-1 was found significant. The treatment combination of P40Zn6 (40 kg P2O5 ha-1 + 6.0 kg Zn ha-1) was found significant for seed and stover yield and phosphorus uptake by seed.