Soil Test Crop Response Based Integrated Plant Nutrient Management System for Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) in an Inceptisol

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted on an Inceptisol of Agricultural Research Farm, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi during rabi 2017-18 by using integrated plant nutrient management system (IPNMS) on the basis of STCR approach. The aim of study was to develop fertilizer recommendation equations for cultivation of fennel. Soil test data, grain yield and NPK uptake by fennel crop were used for achieving four important basic parameters, viz., nutrients required to produce one quintal of fennel grain (NR), contribution of nutrients from fertilizers (%CF), contribution of nutrients from soil (%CS) and contribution of nutrients from organic matter-FYM (%C-OM). It was found that 4.37, 1.13 and 3.91 kg of N, P2O5 and K2O, respectively were required for producing one quintal fennel grain. The per cent contribution of nutrients from soil, fertilizer and FYM were 14.05, 50.30 and 10.38 for N; 62.65, 54.08 and 3.45 for P2O5, and 13.24, 169.63 and 12.24 for K2O, respectively. By using these basic parameters, ready reckoner of fertilizer doses was prepared for varying soil test values and desired yield targets of fennel grain using NPK alone and NPK with FYM.